SUEZ and coal
The principal fuel of the 19th century, coal was overtaken by petrol in the 20th century, but remains a fuel with several advantages. It is abundant, with proven reserves of coal now 1.5 times greater than the total reserves of natural gas and petrol. Coal-fired electricity production technologies are now among the least costly. So, since they benefit from a reliable supply and a relatively stable price compared with other fuels, coal-fired plants remain very much in use in order to guarantee an energy supply to the maximum number of people. Coal now represents nearly 8% of the SUEZ Group?s installed production. In the future, coal will retain a place in the Group?s diversified electricity mix while at the same time being subject to national and international policies regarding CO2 emissions.
Our know-how
A developer and operator of coal-fired plants, the SUEZ group believes in innovation in this energy sector Improvements to the design of the steam cycle and the use both of more effective steels and accurate management systems are therefore under assessment so that it will soon be possible to approach the yield of Gas/Steam Turbine plants, which are widely used within the group, and ensure a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. In the future, the SUEZ group?s new plants will all be fitted with a system to capture and store CO2, as soon as the technical context, the legal framework and regulations make such an initiative economically profitable.
Thailand: a clean coal-fired power plant
Glow Energy, a subsidiary of SUEZ Energy International and the largest private electricity producer in Thailand, recently won a contract to build a 660MW coal-fired electricity power plant at the Map Ta Phut petrochemicals complex in Thailand. While benefiting from existing infrastructures for this type of facility (equipment for receipt and unloading of coal, a unit to manage the coolant water inlet and outlet), this plant will be among the cleanest in the world. It will comply with the legal restrictions on emissions set by international standards as well as those of the European Union. It will also satisfy the criteria laid down by World Bank directives and comply with Thai legislation while providing an energy yield of more than 40% - much higher than average for plants of this type. The plant, which will be operational by the end of 2011, will contribute to diversifying the country?s energy supply, supplying electricity in a cheaper and more stable manner.
Key figures
At December 31st 2007, the installed production capacity of the SUEZ group from coal was 4433.33 MWe. In 2007, coal represented 8% of the SUEZ group?s energy portfolio.