IGCC technology is still being perfected. Some of the biggest challenges include:
- Cost — IGCC facilities are considerably more expensive than conventional ones. Also, inexperience with constructing and operating these facilities makes it difficult to estimate their costs. For instance, a conventional 500 megawatt coal-fired power plant costs about $650 million, or $1,300 per kilowatt hour. Estimates for IGCC range from $1,400 – $3,600/kWh.
- Reliability — Existing IGCC plants report significantly more stoppages than conventional coal facilities, which hurts profitability. However, these stoppages are declining as the technology improves and existing plants continue operation.
- Fuel issues — The two existing coal-fed IGCC facilities in the United States have not been able to use softer coals found in the Western United States, including Texas lignite. However, the Vresova facility in the Czech Republic has been successfully gasifying lignite since 1996.
