Expect diversity to rule tomorrow's economy

In 25 years, there will be more natural gas-fueled, high-efficiency, combined-cycle plants. The coal-based technologies will continue to have a large Rankine cycle component with atmospheric circulating beds supplementing the traditional pulverized-coal units in regions of the world with low-grade coal (such as China and India). Coal-based combined-cycle plants will begin to make inroads in areas of the world where efficiency and emissions are at a premium. There will be more pressurized-fluidized beds and advanced (partial gasifications combined) pressurized-fluidized beds because of their low capital cost and high efficiencies. Depending on the regulatory environment, integrated gasification-combined cycle plants will also be built to meet stringent environmental requirements. During this period, there will be more distributed generation using fuel cells and photovoltaic technology. Of course, where economically and environmentally feasible, there will continue to be hydroelectric plants. In 100 years, there will be a decline in natural gas supply. Hence, coal will have to shoulder a larger share of the power generation load; also more rapid development of renewable technologies such as biomass. Nuclear power remains an excellent technological option. Perhaps by then, cultural, emotional and political impediments against the nuclear options will have been overcome so there can be a revival of the nuclear option. In the authors opinion, even 100 years from now, there will still be a lot of coal used to generated electricity. The author predicts a continuing conversion to electro-technologies in all aspects of their lives