§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish details of a comparison, on the basis of the efficient use of energy of the conversion of coal into (a) direct heat by burning for general industrial purposes, (b) synthetic natural gas by contemporary processes and (c) electricity.
§ Mr. EadieIt is not possible to provide a realistic comparison between these energy sources because of the widely differing circumstances in which use can be made of the heat released. Modern industrial coal firing equipment should provide a combustion efficiency approaching 100 per cent., but the efficiency with which the heat is utilised will depend upon the application. The efficiency of the commercial Lurgi coal gasification process adapted to manufacture substitute natural gas can lie in the range 55–85 per cent. depending upon the method of calculation. The thermal efficiencies of large modern British coal fired power stations fall in the range 33–35.5 per cent.