[Index]
Opportunities Identified for Sustainable Development of
Clean Coal Combustion Technologies in Small and Medium Sized Boilers in Central
and Eastern Europe
Geneva, 24 September 2002
Experts at an international workshop on "Clean Coal Combustion in Small
and Medium Sized Boilers in Central and Eastern Europe" convened in Brasov,
Romania, 4-6 September 2002, agreed upon a targeted and achievable Agenda
for Action to facilitate the sustainable development of clean coal combustion
technologies in small and medium sized boilers in Central and Eastern Europe
(CEE). Implementation of this 'Action Plan' will require strong collaboration
with both national governments in the region and the European Union (EU).
Organized by the Institute of Power Studies and Design (ISPE) of Romania,
the Workshop was held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE), the World Coal Institute (WCI) and the World Energy Council
(WEC) and in collaboration with the IEA Coal Research - the Clean Coal Centre
(IEACCC). The Workshop was highly focused and attended by over 50 experts
from Albania, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation,
Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Coal is the major source of energy for power and heat production in CEE:
25% of primary energy needs are provided by coal; and 48% of power generation
is based on coal. Traditionally, this coal has been utilized in households
and small and medium capacity boilers in the region. This sector, also known
as the industrial or non-power sector, refers to boilers below 50 MWt.
There are estimated to be some 100,000 to 150,000 of such boilers in CEE,
consuming around 150 million tonnes of coal, equivalent to one-third of the
region's total coal consumption. However, the use of coal in this sector also
poses a significant environmental and health hazard due to: (i) the boilers
being in urgent need of rehabilitation or replacement, which will require
significant investment; and, (ii) not always appropriate emission standards.
EU emission standards are, however, available for boilers above 50 MW and
some EU countries also have standards for boiler below 50 MW.
For coal to maintain this important market in an environmentally-acceptable
manner it was recognized that a critical assessment was urgently required
to fully understand the challenges and barriers to be overcome, in particular
to understand the scale of the issue, including number of boilers under 50
MW; to identify the reasons underlying the neglect of the sector, including
lack of finance and use of inappropriate technologies; and, to draft recommendations
to the key stakeholders, in particular CEE governments and the EU.
In undertaking this assessment participants at the Workshop addressed a broad
range of issues, notably:
- Technologies and Manufacturing: including international and national
R,D&D trends, adaptation of foreign experience to specific, mostly low-grade
coals, and retrofitting of boilers;
- Markets and Financing: including competition between gas, district
heating and coal in the residential, small customer and industrial sectors
and the role of energy services companies (ESCOs) in financing.
- Policies and Regulations: including energy and pollution abatement
policies for low-stack emissions and effectiveness of the enforcement of
emission standards for small boilers.
- Cooperation: including international clean coal-related programmes
and directives and the potential role of Joint Implementation under the
Kyoto Protocol in facilitating the much needed financing.
After two days of extensive deliberations and shared experiences, participants
agreed upon the following Agenda for Action:
- Identify Financial Solutions - Financing is one of the most crucial
issues and obstacles connected to the implementation of clean coal combustion
technologies in the small and medium sized boiler sector in CEE. UNECE,
through the Committee on Sustainable Energy, should be invited to address
the issue of financing of cleaner coal technologies for the small and medium
sized boiler sector via the organization of a workshop/seminar, in collaboration
with other stakeholders, in order to identify appropriate financing sources
or funds and build/develop adequate financing schemes.
- Further Develop and Harmonize Emission Standards - Emission standards
for the coal-fired small and medium sized boiler market (i.e. less than
50 MW) should be further developed in CEE (and hence so promote cleaner
coal combustion technologies) by seeking, through national government measures,
to harmonise the legal framework with that of EU countries. In some countries,
national legislation already exists, but may not be comprehensive in its
coverage and in most instances boilers of less than 1 MW are not covered.
Hence, there was a consensus that a concerted EU approach could result in
harmonization for boilers below 50 MW, but that specific legislation is
left to national governments.
- Create Inventory of Coal-Fired Boilers in CEE - Owing to the existing
lack of knowledge and information a report identifying the sources of and
share of emissions released from coal-fired boilers below 50 MW in CEE would
be valuable. Such a report would facilitate the development of the necessary
EU general guidelines and national legislation and policies. Funding options
to undertake this activity need to be assessed.
- Initiate Technology Transfer Programmes - To initiate technology
transfer programmes dedicated to clean coal combustion in small and medium
sized boilers, based on international programmes already in existence. This
should include an approach to the European Commission to explore opportunities
for funding and assistance, recognising the special conditions existing
in CEE countries in view of their status as EU accession countries.
- Disseminate Information - In order to address the urgent need for
dissemination to policy makers and other interested stakeholders of success
stories highlighting the status of clean coal combustion technologies for
the small and medium sized boiler sector, the creation of an international
electronic database/clearing house should be explored.
A follow-up 'Financing' Workshop will be organized in Geneva in 2003 under
the auspices of the UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy to seek to identify
appropriate financing sources or funds and build/develop adequate financing
schemes for the deployment of clean coal technologies in the small and medium
sized boiler sector in CEE.
To obtain a complete copy of the Workshop Conclusions and Agenda for Action
and/or other information regarding the Workshop, please contact:
Ms Charlotte Griffiths
Economic Affairs Officer, Sustainable Energy Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations, Office 349
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 1988
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 0038
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.unece.org/energy/nrghome.html
Information regarding the co-organizers of the Workshop can be found on
their respective web sites:
Institute of Power Studies and Design (ISPE), Romania: http://www.ispe.ro
IEA Coal Research - the Clean Coal Centre (IEACCC): http://www.iea-coal.org.uk
World Coal Institute (WCI): http://www.wci-coal.com
World Energy Council (WEC): http://www.worldenergy.org
Ref: ECE/ENE/02/03