Experts: Warfare Between Coal and Gas Is Nonexistent
Markets may currently favor natural gas, but coal, which has been diminished for “good reason,” will likely have a significant place as a reliable fuel for power generation, a diverse panel of U.S. coal experts—including a generator, a supplier, and a market analyst—suggested at CERAWeek by IHS Markit in Houston on March 7.
Coal lost its dominant role in the U.S. generation mix in 2016 and fell further to a 30.1% share at the end of 2017, drastically lower than the 48.5% it held in 2007. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gas’s share surged to 31.7% in 2017, a leap compared to its 21.6% share in 2007.
A panel at CERAWeek by IHS Markit on March 7, 2018, discussed the role of coal and gas in American power. From left to right: Jim Thompson, IHS Markit; Paul Bailey, ACCCE; David Ownens, TVA; David Khani, CONSOL Energy; and Samuel Andrus, IHS Markit. Source: POWER
According to Paul Bailey, president and CEO of the American Coalition of Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE)—an organization that represents the nation’s coal generation fleet, not the coal industry, as is commonly assumed, he noted—the decline is rooted in the mass retirements of coal plants.…