An Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant combines two components - a gasification system and a modern, highly efficient "combined cycle" electric power system - to produce electricity.
IGCC is a process that combines coal with a mixture of oxygen and steam under pressure to produce a chemical reaction that forces carbon molecules apart. The resulting synthesis gas or "syngas" is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen and can be used to fuel combustion turbines that generate electricity.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other impurities are separated and captured from the syngas before combustion in the turbines preventing their release into the atmosphere.
A wide range of carbon-containing materials such as coal, petroleum coke and biomass can be gasified to produce syngas. In addition to being used to generate electricity, the syngas can be further processed to produce other high-value products such as hydrogen, which can be used as a transport fuel through fuel cells and potentially provide a feedstock for the manufacture of other energy related products and chemicals based on coal as the energy source.