Low carbon modern coal-based energy technology system and development strategy

Coal has made important contributions to the industrialization process of human society, and has played a key supporting role in ensuring China’s energy security and stable economic development. Since the mid-19th century, the coal-based fuel of coal, kerosene, gas and coal electricity has gradually entered the era of large-scale use. However, the traditional use of coal produces high carbon emissions, which has become a major problem in energy transition. Facing the development of ecological civilization society, the clean and efficient use of coal is imminent, and the innovation of modern coal-based energy technology is imperative. This paper proposes the definition and connotation of modern coal-based energy technology system, which is defined as the production of low-carbon energy products such as coal-based gas, coal-based oil, coal-based hydrogen and coal-based electricity, and the in-situ absorption of carbon dioxide in mining areas to form a clean and low-carbon energy production system with carbon neutrality. Its technical connotation includes coal-based gas, coal-based oil, coal-based hydrogen, coal-based electricity and dynamic carbon neutrality in mining areas, with a total of 5 technical modules, 19 technical units and 61 key technologies. The modern coal-based energy technology system will play an important role of “one main body, three supports and one breakthrough” in the future new energy system. Coal-based electricity provides the main body of electricity system stability. Coal-based oil supports the China’s oil safety. Coal-based gas supports the China’s gas safety. Coal-based hydrogen plays a supporting role in the development of hydrogen energy in China. The major breakthrough is the dynamic carbon neutral technology of coal-based energy. The paper supposes that when the ratio of non-fossil energy and low-carbon coal-based energy is maintained in the range of 2.5−3.0, coal-based energy, oil and gas and wind, water, nuclear energy can be reasonably integrated to form a new quality energy system with strong complementarity, high reliability and low carbon emissions. Based on the major breakthrough and practical application of modern coal-based energy technology, it is predicted that China’s low-carbon coal-based energy production will reach 1.02 billion −1.46 billion tons of standard coal equivalent (tce) in 2060, equivalent to 18%−24% of the national energy demand, and carbon dioxide emissions will be controlled below 500 million tons. Compared with the current energy transformation planning path based on “de coal” planning, the share of coal in our energy system can increase from 10% to more than 20%, and carbon dioxide emissions will reduce by 50%. At that time, the modern coal-based energy system has great technological innovation significance for China’s energy security and carbon dioxide emission reduction, and helps China to become a country with independent energy supply.