This involves technologies, which change coal into gas or liquid that can be used as a fuel. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle is one of the most promising of these technologies. Some insiders think that IGCC may become part of the major utility power plants by 2010. IGCC combines a high temperature gas turbine and lower temperature steam turbine used to generate electricity more efficiently. Here are technologies that may be a long way off but are very interesting to talk about.
Ionized gas flows through a strong magnetic field inducing an electric field.
After flowing through the field, hot gases are used to generate steam and turn a turbine. As heat is transferred, seed is recaptured for recylcing. The major drawback of this technology is the nedd to use expensive superconducting magnets, which must be cooled to 269 degrees Celsius. Another technology seeks to tackle the problem of CO2 emissions directly by separating CO2-rich gas from regular emissions and then collecting them and compressing them for transport. So, as you can see as the future of coal seems strong.