Abstract

The coal-fired power fleets in China, Japan, the EU and the USA are compared. Data from existing plants, of
300 MW or larger capacity, as well as those under construction and planned are reviewed. Plants are
compared in terms of deployed technology (subcritical, supercritical and ultrasupercritical) as well as their
age and installed pollution control equipment. Examples of some of the most efficient plants in each region
are described, including Guodian Taizhou II unit 3 in China, Maasvlakte Power Plant 3 in the Netherlands,
Isogo unit 2 in Japan and the John Turk Jr coal-fired plant in Arkansas, USA. The coal fleet in Japan is the
most efficient in the world, followed by China, the EU and then the USA. All the regions studied have active
research programmes to increase the efficiency of coal-fired plant and to reduce emissions. This survey
also investigates the attitudes of the governments towards high efficiency and clean coal power
technologies as well as drivers and barriers to their use.