Future impacts of coal distribution constraints on coal costs

This study seeks to identify potential capacity constraints within the US rail network that could limit expanded use of coal for electricity generation and hydrogen fuel production. We estimate the costs of alleviating those constraints under various scenarios of future coal demand growth. By 2050,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transportation research. Part E, Logistics and transportation review Logistics and transportation review, 2009-05, Vol.45 (3), p.460-471
Main Authors: McCollum, David L., Ogden, Joan M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Capacity
Capital investments
Coal
Cost estimates
Hydrogen
Infrastructure
Investment
Rail
Rail Capacity Infrastructure Investment Hydrogen Scenario
Railway networks
Scenario
Studies
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Summary:This study seeks to identify potential capacity constraints within the US rail network that could limit expanded use of coal for electricity generation and hydrogen fuel production. We estimate the costs of alleviating those constraints under various scenarios of future coal demand growth. By 2050, coal transportation is projected to increase 35–90% necessitating rail capital investments of $1.5–11.0 billion. These investments are within the range of historical expenditures in the railroad industry, so it is unlikely that delivered prices of coal will necessarily increase or that rail capacity will be a barrier to a future coal-based “Hydrogen Economy”.
ISSN:1366-5545
1878-5794
DOI:10.1016/j.tre.2008.09.011