Washington, DC - The role of fossil fuels in the global energy portfolio, reducing the environmental impacts of coal-based energy systems, and recent advances in clean coal technology are just some of the subjects that will be discussed at the 2012 International Pittsburgh Coal Conference to be held October 15-18 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.

The conference, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering, is the premier annual event devoted to all aspects of coal, energy, and the environment. International representatives from industry, government, and academia attend the conference to discuss the technical and environmental challenges associated with the use of coal. This year’s presentations will address the development of next-generation energy plants designed to achieve near-zero emissions of pollutants, high thermal efficiency, and reduced costs through the use of emerging clean coal technologies. Specific topics include coal combustion, gasification, sustainability and the environment, project financing, carbon management, and coal-derived products.

Some of the plenary speakers include:

  • The Honorable Sherwood Boehlert, U.S. House of Representatives (1983-2007)
  • John Hofmeister, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens for Affordable Energy and former President of Shell Oil Company
  • Ke Liu, Vice President & Chief Technology Officer at China’s National Institute of Clean & Low-Carbon Energy
  • Chris Hobson, Chief Environmental Officer for Southern Company
  • William Rosenberg, President of E-3 Gasification and former Assistant Administrator for the U.S. EPA Office of Air and Radiation

New to the conference is the addition of two half-day workshops focused on capital investment analysis and risk management as applied to implementation of clean coal technology. Experts in from Excidian LLC and the Global Association of Risk Professionals will lead the workshops.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has organized a series of business and technical information sessions for this year’s conference. The series, titled Clean Coal Demonstration and Commercial Projects, will provide a unique opportunity for interaction among experts in energy-project financing, risk management, energy policy, and energy-technology deployment.

Demonstration and commercial sessions will address both the technical and business sides of large-scale clean coal projects. Six technical sessions will review the status of current U.S. and international demonstration and commercial projects for coal-based power, fuels, and chemicals production, including carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), advanced gasification and combustion systems, syngas clean-up and utilization, and regulatory impacts. In three business sessions, presenters will address financing for CCUS and other clean coal projects, as well as investment and risk management strategies for advanced coal technologies demonstration and commercialization projects.

For more information about the conference, the Clean Coal Demonstration and Commercial Projects series, or the financing workshops, please visit the NETL website at www.netl.doe.gov or the conference website at http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/PCC/.

 

<p>FECommunications@hq.doe.gov</p><p>&nbsp;</p>