Underground Coal Gasification: Coal Energy Without Mining
Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) is a safe, proven technological process that harnesses coal energy in the ground without mining.
CIRI’s Proposed UCG Project:
- Sized to fuel a new 100-megawatt combined-cycle
power plant - Located on CIRI lands on the west side of Cook Inlet
- Creates syngas (also known as a synthesis gas), which can be used to generate electricity or upgraded into synthetic natural gas or clean liquid fuels
- Committed to carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) by way of enhanced oil recovery
UCG requires minimal surface infrastructure or disruption to surrounding area, leaves most coal byproducts contained safely underground and works well in conjunction with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology. Risks, including surface subsidence and groundwater contamination, are identified and managed through careful site selection and characterization, project design and operation and ongoing monitoring.
UCG with carbon capture is an important technology that can improve Alaska and U.S. economic and energy stability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.
