An Environmental Analysis of Illinois Coal Entry into the Transportation Market

Abstract

Using Illinois coal in transportation has varied environmental consequences. This study calculated the total CO₂ emissions from gasoline and eight other vehicle propulsion methods involving Illinois coal. Vehicle propulsion methods of ultra super critical electrical cycle, integrated gasification combined electrical cycle, pulverized coal in a sub-critical electrical cycle, and electricity from a hydrogen fuel cell emitted the lowest CO₂. Vehicle propulsion methods using Illinois coal to produce ethanol, butanol, and integrated gasification combined electrical cycle/ethanol emitted CO₂ comparable to gasoline. The vehicle propulsion method of Fischer-Tropsch diesel emitted the most CO₂. It was concluded that energy efficiency and CO₂ offset from agricultural growth and by-products were the most influential factors of CO₂ emissions.

Keywords:

• coal
• environment
• transportation

Notes

^aMinor energy requirements consist of five sources: (1) energy to make raw materials for feedstock equipment, (2) energy to assemble feedstock acquisition equipment, (3) energy to repair feedstock acquisition equipment, (4) energy to build fuel production facilities, (5) energy to prepare coal used indirectly. The composition of the fuel used to provide this energy is about 80% coal and 20% diesel (Shapouri et al., 2002; Spath et al., 1999; Chiesa et al., 2005; Challman, 2007; Klara, 2007; Evans, 2004; Graboski, 2002; Daly, 2008; Susta et al., 2004; USDL, 2007; Wu et al., 2006).

^bFuel production energy requirements are all provided by 100% by coal except for gasoline which is 81% oil and 19% coal.

Sources: ^cEvans, 2004

^dSpath et al., 1999

⁵Chiesa et al., 2005

^fChallman, 2007

^gShapouri et al., 2002

^hShapouri et al., 1995

ⁱREI, 2006

^jBusiness Wire, 2001

^kOgden, 2004

^lLavin, 2006b

^mAAR, 2005

ⁿWang et al., 2004

^oKlara, 2007

^pGoidich et al., 2005

^qGraboski, 2002

^rWu et al., 2007.

Sources: ^aKlara, 2007

^bDOE, 2004

^cShapouri et al., 2002

^dWu et al., 2007

^eDOE, 2001

^fHong and Slatick, 1994.

Sources: ^aShapouri et al., 2002

^bRamey, 1998

^cGriffiths and Jarvis, 2005

^dGlobal Footprint Network, 2008

^eKim and Dale, 2002

^fKlara, 2007

^gGraboski, 2002

^hChallman, 2007

ⁱChiesa et al., 2005

^jOgden, 2004

^kDOE and EPA, 2007

^lEPA, 2005

^mHordeski, 2006

ⁿLavin, 2006b

^oAAR, 2005

^pREI, 2006

^qGoidich et al., 2005

^rDOE and EPA, 2009

^sWang, 2005

^tWang et al., 2004

^uBusiness Wire, 2001.