CCC/221 ISBN 978-92-9029-541-9

August 2013

copyright © IEA Clean Coal Centre

Abstract

Improving the efficiencies of the large number of older coal-fired power plants operating around the

world would give major savings in CO2 emissions together with significant other benefits. This report

begins with a summary of the ways efficiency can become degraded and of the means available to

combat the decrease in performance. These include improvements to operating and maintenance

practices and more major techniques that are available, including boiler and turbine retrofits. There is

also an update on fuel drying developments as a route to higher efficiency in plants firing high

moisture lignites. The largest chapter of the report contains a number of descriptions of case study

improvement projects, to illustrate measures that have been applied, benefits that have been achieved

and identify best practices, which are summarised. Major national and international upgrading

programmes are described.