China’s electrochemical system converts coal into electricity with no direct carbon emission

A team led by Xie Heping has developed a direct coal fuel cell that converts coal’s chemical energy into electricity without burning it.

The system captures carbon dioxide on-site and is designed to improve efficiency, durability, and scalability beyond earlier coal-to-power designs.

Researchers say it could offer a higher-efficiency way to use coal with far lower direct emissions if it can be scaled successfully.

The approach may also support carbon capture and potential in-place use of deep coal reserves.