Technological innovation paths of coal industry for achieving carbon neutralization

Under the background of carbon neutralization era.the traditional energy system has been confronted with fundamental changes and innovation. How to lead green development and achieve carbon peak and neutrality.has become the obligatory responsibility of the coal industry development.because of its key role as the ballast stone of national energy security. Therefore.it is urgent to clarify the importance of coal in the elastic safety range of the future energy system.under three scenarios (controllable.optimized.and core bottom-guarantee).with the objective requirement of the carbon neutrality. The method of whole life cycle was presented to clarify the carbon footprint of coal source throughout its whole process. The feasibility of coal technological innovation and innovative development under different technical pathways was explored. Finally.the subversive innovative technology path for future coal industry has been proposed.corresponding to target requirements of carbon neutralization.while the advantages and weakness of the two technical paths were discussed. The results show that:① Coal can still play an important role in the future energy system.and it is an essential indispensable source because it has been regarded as the guaranteed safe energy source. The core.optimization.and controllable bottom-guarantee scenarios account for 61.5%.47.1%.and 43.5% of the elastic safety zones.respectively;② The carbon footprint of coal`s entire life cycle is approximately 7.13 billion tons.including 56.1% of power generation and heating sectors.and 26.6% of the iron steel smelting sector.as well as 8.1% of the coal chemical industry sector. The implementation of zero carbon efficient power generation.terminal electrification and coal-to-green hydrogen are the primary choices.for the technological innovation of the coal industry to achieve carbon neutrality;③ The feasibilities of UCG-IGCC-CCUS power generation technology and UCG-H2-CCUS-green hydrogen technology innovations have been investigated and explored. Compared with ultra-supercritical coal-fired and IGCC power generation.the power generation coal consumption of UCG-IGCC-CCUS has been increased.but it has achieved zero emission. Compared with blue hydrogen production from renewable energy.UCG-H2-CCUS production of green hydrogen has the obvious cost advantages.while it can achieve nearly zero emissions. These technologies will become the only way for coal safety.efficient.green.and zero-carbon transformations.providing scientific theory and technical support for coal industry development and technological innovation under the carbon neutrality goal.