Sustainable development requires cheap, secure and environmental-friendly energy supply and use. None of the current energy options, including natural gas, oil, coal, nuclear and renewables, and the current ways of their use could fully meet the needs of growing economy and sustainability requirements. Evolutionary changes in the current energy systems to improve efficiency, eliminate pollutant emissions and reduce greenhouse gas per unit energy output are the most important first step in the sustainable development. Revolutionary technology innovations in energy sources and use, through continuing R&D effort, must occur before a genuine sustainable state could be reached. In searching for the zero-emission energy technologies as required by the sustainability principles, fuel cells and hydrogen economy, powered by renewable sources, are found to provide the most appropriate combination. Coal has a critical role to play in the transition path towards such sustainability, for it is abundant, cheap, secure, and long-term available. Coal gasification, combined with fuel cells technology and future advancement in CO2 sequestration and storage, can achieve zero-emission. The coal technologies will also provide renewable energy, particularly biomass and wastes, a real opportunity to grow its contribution in the sustainable energy mix.
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