Ambre Energy
Australian-based Ambre Energy can retrieve crude oil out of coal and still have energy left over for electricity generation. It has been known that synthetic crude oil can be distilled from coal for over 100 years. The process, heating coal without oxygen, is called retorting, destructive distillation or low temperature carbonization.
Ambre says it can convert between 25-30% of the energy in its feed coal into synthetic gas and crude. The remaining solid material, called char, can be used to fuel power stations. For example, 2 million tons of low grade coal could produce 1.5-2 million barrels of synthetic crude oil per year. The remaining char could be used power a 200-megawatt power station.
Process:
Mined coal is fed into a retort, where coal is pyrolyzed, or heated in the absence of oxygen. During the distillation process, coal is separated into synfuels, which can then be processed into synthetic crude and synthetic gas. Other useful byproducts include ammonia and sulfur. Char residue can then be recovered for power generation.
Char can also be gasified to produce Syngas, a gas rich in hydrogen. Steam used for power generation can be recycled with the char in this process.
An additional benefit of the retorting of coal is that of the mercury originally in the coal approximately 95% is removed. The char when used for power generation then generates significantly less mercury emissions.
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