The development has been underway since 2018 and is still at the prototype stage, but researchers have already created stable experimental samples, writes the South China Morning Post. The key feature of the technology is the rejection of traditional combustion: instead, a controlled reaction of oxidation of coal with oxygen is used. This allows generating electric current directly, bypassing intermediate steps such as heating water and rotating turbines.
Before use, the coal undergoes a complex preparation: it is crushed, cleaned of impurities, dried and formed into a porous structure. This structure acts as a functional membrane inside the element and ensures the efficient flow of the electrochemical reaction. Only two components are actually involved inside the system – carbon and oxygen.
Special attention is paid to by-products. During the reaction process, carbon dioxide is formed, but, according to the developers, it is not emitted into the atmosphere. Instead, CO₂ is either converted into synthesis gas or chemically bound into stable compounds such as sodium bicarbonate. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the technology.
The absence of a combustion process and complex mechanical infrastructure makes the plant more compact and potentially cheaper than traditional coal-fired power plants. Moreover, scientists are considering the possibility of locating such systems directly in coal deposits, which could reduce the cost of fuel extraction and transportation.
Although promising, the technology requires further research and development before it can be commercialized.
