CCC/222 ISBN 978-92-9029-542-6

August 2013

copyright © IEA Clean Coal Centre

Abstract

IGCC has today reached a status where experience is available from first and second generation

plants, built in the 1970s/1980s and in the 1990s respectively, as commercial-scale demonstration

plants for coal-based applications. These plants feature variations on gasification technology and

subsequent environmental controls and in operating them a number of technical and commercial

lessons have been learned that will help to improve the next generation of IGCC projects.

The report reviews and summarises the state-of-the-art and operating experience of several

commercial IGCC plants worldwide, setting out the lessons learned and plans for future development

embracing such issues as the changes or modifications to plant made to overcome the operational

problems and to improve the reliability and availability of the plant. Since IGCC is considered a

‘capture ready’ technology for CO2 abatement, the current status with regard to the incorporation of

carbon capture and storage systems (CCS) has been reviewed. Finally, the report outlines the issues

associated with assessing the risks in commercialising IGCC plant.