Underground Coal Gasification and CO2 Storage Support Bulgaria's Low Carbon Energy Supply

Underground coal gasification facilitates the utilization of deep-seated coals that are economically not exploitable via conventional mining. This study examines UCG as an approach for coal conversion into a synthesis gas as substitute for natural gas or to fuel a combined cycle gas turbine with CO2 capture and storage. Modelling results show that implementing UCG-CCS into the Bulgarian energy system depicts a low carbon alternative to coal fired power generation and can potentially decrease Bulgaria's gas import dependency. Both, UCG-CCS and CCS-PP, appear as auxiliary transition strategies to achieve the national and EU targets on CO2 emission mitigation.