The Green Solution: Coal or Wind?
The discussion “The Green Solution: Coal or Wind” was held on February 3rd within
the Mongolia Economic Forum Framework. Ch. Otgochuluu, Director of
Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Centre led up the
discussion and Dr. B.Battsengel, Head of Chemical Technology Department
at National University of Mongolia made a presentation about Advanced
Coal Technology.“As the country with tremendous amount of coal
resources, it is important to introduce clean coal technology. Coal to
Liquid technology will ease Mongolia`s dependence on oil imports” she
says. Mongolia’s coal resources have been estimated approximately 162
billion tons.
“There is no doubt that most of Mongolia`s energy needs will be
supplied by coal,” admits G.Purevdorj, scientist at Mongolian Academy of
Sciences. But with increasing environmental problems in Mongolia, it is
vital to take full advantage of its renewable sources he added. As
today, coal, the fossil fuel that has the highest emissions of
greenhouse gases, comprises the bulk of Mongolia’s energyproduction,
generating more than 80 percent of the country’s power and heat.
According to the World Health Organization, Ulaanbaatar ranks as the
second most polluted city in the world. Therefore, there is an urgent
need to look to cleaner energy solutions than coal.
Recently, Mongolia is actively searching for alternative energy
sources. “Wind power is one of the fastest growing sources of power
generation” says researcher Kh.Batsuuri, during his presentation on wind
energy. “Mongolia has the wind capacity to generate enough electricity
to supply all of China’s electric needs,” says B.Byambasaikhan, CEO of
Newcom Group, which is working to put into operation a wind farm in Tuv
aimag`s Salkhit Mountain with the capacity of 50 MW.
Ukhaa Khudag Power Plant
Mongolian first power plant independently constructed by Mongolian engineers
Description: By introducing environmentally friendly
technology such as a dry-air cooling system, the Energy Resources once
again confirms its achievements in the energy field. The plant, in
Tsogt-Tsetsii soum, Umnugobi aimag, will be a source of reliable heat
and electricity to residents of the soum, to the coal mining site and
wash plant in Ukhaa Khudag, and to the construction projects in the Gobi
region.
Capacity: 18 MW, and eventually can be further expanded
Investment: Total cost of the power station estimates around USD45 million
Salkhit Wind Plant
Mongolian first wind power plant
Description: Newcom Group is working to put into
operation a wind farm in Tuv aimag`s Salkhit Mountain. Salkhit wind farm
would supply almost 5 percent of the country’s electricity when it
starts operating in November of 2012. It would reduce the emission of
greenhouse gases by 150,000 tons and save 1.2 million tons of clean
water.
Capacity: 50 MW, each year it would produce 160 million kWh of electricity
Investment: The project costs USD 115 million or MNT 165 billion