Innovative pathways to sustainable energy: Advancements in clean coal technologies in Bangladesh - A review

As a densely populated country experiencing rapid economic growth, Bangladesh faces a surging demand for energy. Despite efforts to develop renewable energy sources, coal remains a significant share of the energy mix with a consumption of 2,099,900 tons. However, conventional coal utilization raises environmental concerns like greenhouse gas emissions and other hazardous pollutants. To tackle these issues, viable solutions like clean coal technologies come into play. These encompass high-efficiency low-emission (HELE) power stations, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) systems, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), as well as supercritical and ultra-supercritical steam cycles (S/USC), providing adequate means to reduce the ecological effects tied to coal-powered electricity production. This paper asserts that the strategic adoption of clean coal technologies can play a pivotal role in shaping Bangladesh's sustainable energy future, contingent upon robust policy frameworks, environmental impact and recommend that the government must incentivize HELE, CCUS, and clean coal as well as promote international collaboration. Moreover, modern coal preparation techniques and the future research direction are also discussed in this paper and additionally this study suggests that HELE technologies are more suitable for Bangladesh than other current technologies. These strategies have the potential to yield enhanced economic benefits and offer viable solutions for achieving the clean and efficient conversion of coal resources.