The Ultra-Clean Coal (UCC) process produces coal that has had virtually all of its mineral impurities chemically removed. This high-purity coal can be fired directly into gas turbines to provide high-efficiency, reduced-emission power generation.

pilot scale UCC plant
in the Hunter Valley
pilot scale UCC plant in the Hunter Valley

Through a two-stage process, energy in UCC can be converted into electrical energy with very high efficiency of 50 to 55 percent. Most coal-fired power stations in Australia are typically reaching efficiencies of around 33 to 35 percent, while very modern coal-fired power stations can reach efficiencies of up to 40 percent.The UCC-fired, gas-turbine combined-cycle system has the potential to produce 25 percent less greenhouse gas than best practice in a conventional coal-fired system. This can be translated to an overall reduction of 10 percent during its life cycle when mining, UCC production and transport are taken into account.White Mining Limited is currently running a UCC pilot plant in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales using CSIRO Energy Technology’s advances.
The plant has provided UCC for turbine assessment in Japan.The UCC product is not designed to compete with traditional coal-fired power stations but has been developed as a replacement for oil and gas in power generation.

Dr Jim Smitham
Phone: (02) 4960 6077
Fax: (02) 4960 6820
Email: Jim Smitham

Low Emissions Electricity and Competitive Coal

Renewables and Hydrogen

Distributed Energy and Storage

Energy and Environment

Ultra Clean Coal