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Coal, a longtime source of energy
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Coal is one of the fossil fuels that emit the most CO2. However, it continues to account for more than 40% of the world’s electricity output.
Still very present in the energy mix
In thermal power plants, GDF SUEZ favours using natural gas, the thermal energy that emits the least CO2. Coal nevertheless remains an essential source of energy in some countries and so
Abundant, cheap and widely available across the planet, coal has a major disadvantage: it is extremely polluting.
The Goal: Improve energy yields from coal and reduce polluting residues
For about ten years, GDF SUEZ has been developing unique expertise in order to use biomass in a co-combustion system for the reduction of CO2 residues in one of its oldest coal-fired plants.
In Poland, the 1654 MW Polianec power plant was partially converted to biomass and outfitted with desulphurization facilties. The new projects begun by the Group use latest generation “supercritical” technologies that reach yields over 45% (compared to 35% for traditional ones). The CO2 emissions are thus significantly reduced as are run-off emissions.
GDF SUEZ has made major investments in depolluting technologies. In Germany and the Netherlands, power plants under construction are all “capture ready”, as they were designed and built to recover and store CO2.
