Nearly 40% of the world’s electricity currently comes from burning coal. In India and China coal provides approximately 80% of power. So the potential benefits from cleaner coal technology could be huge. Shell scientists have developed proprietary coal gasification technology that converts coal into a cleaner-burning synthesis gas, which can then be used for power generation or to make chemicals or fertilisers. Gasification results in lower local air emissions and water use than conventional coal technologies. The process also creates a concentrated, high-pressure stream of CO2 that can be captured and subsequently sequestered underground. By the end of 2008, we had sold 26 licences worldwide to use our coal gasification technology, making us an industry leader.
