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A REPORT released this week casts doubt on the idea of “clean coal”. The
report, written by Sydney-based independent energy consultant Mark Ellis, also
criticises the large allocation of Australian government funds to coal
projects—about $80 million per year, it estimates. Ellis was
commissioned to write the report, called Can coal be clean?, by the community
group Aidwatch. It argues that improved technologies for burning coal might
actually increase carbon dioxide emissions as well as being costly. Fluidised
bed combustion and advanced pulverised fuel technologies will increase carbon
emissions and costs, Ellis says. Some other approaches, such as using gas or
solar energy, would reduce emissions but increase costs. The only approach that
saves money as well as fuel is improving the efficiency of using energy. Ellis’
report is available from Aidwatch, PO Box 652 Woollahra 2025, NSW.