The Alternative Green Energy Thread

michaels

Interesting although structural economic differences (such as predominant gas central heating, penetration of EVs for transport and deindustrialisation) all make international comparisons problematical.

JKenH

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085802#Comment_82085802

As does the cost of energy.

JKenH

China is going big on cheap gas derived from coal. If it reduces worldwide demand for LNG it could cut energy prices globally. What’s not to like - maybe CO2 emissions at 2-3 x that of natural gas. Apparently CTG is an ideal candidate for carbon capture but so far I think less than 1% of CTG emissions are actually captured.

The UK did toy with the idea back around 2010 with the underground coal gasification project (UCG) which incorporated carbon capture on site but it never got off the ground - link below.

https://www.pivotscipub.com/ges/4/4/0006/html

China bets on synthetic gas as geopolitical risk drives need for energy security

China’s Xinjiang province has emerged as the undisputed hub for CTG expansion, driven by mine-mouth coal prices that averaged just 214 yuan, or $30 per tonne between April 2025 and May 2026, less than 40% of the equivalent price in Inner Mongolia. This cost advantage flows directly into delivered gas prices: Xinjiang CTG reaches East China at $9.1–$9.6 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), generally below China’s average liquefied natural gas (LNG) import price. Existing plants are running at over 90% utilization, reflecting strong demand and the cost competitiveness of domestic synthetic gas versus imported alternatives. Approximately 20 Bcm per year of CTG capacity is currently under development, much of it in Xinjiang, with project approval timelines in the region compressing from three years or more to under 12 months in several recent cases.