ABSTRACT
The generation of electric power from fossil fuels has seen continuing, and in some cases dramatic
technical advances over the last 20-30 years. Technology improvements in fossil fuel combustion have
been driven largely by the need to reduce emissions, by the need to conserve fossil fuel resources, and by
the economics of the competitive marketplace. The importance of fossil fuel-fired electric generation to
the world is undeniable-more than 70% of all power in the U.S. is fossil fuel-based and worldwide the
percentage is higher, and growing. Today most large power plants worldwide burn coal though many
generating companies are adding natural gas plants, particularly where the cost of gas-fired generation,
and the long-term supply of gas, appear favorable. This chapter reviews the current status and likely
future deployment of competing generation technologies based on fossil fuels.
