Clean coal setback – or a fitting end for a 400 year-old fuel source? by Rod Campbell

The federal government’s decision to withdraw funding from the proposed HRL coal-fired power plant has been seen by some as "pulling the pin" on a chance to "demonstrate coal gas technology." But far from lamenting the loss of "new gasification technology," we should be celebrating a fitting end to a fuel source with a 400 year history. In fact, 2012 marks the bicentenary of commercialised coal gasification.

– In 1609, Flemish scientist Jan Baptista van Helmont discovered that heated coal released a flammable “wild spirit”. He realised this spirit was different to air and named it “gas”, from the Greek word for “chaos”. This is the origin of the English word “gas”.

– In the 1790s Scottish engineer William Murdoch perfected the production and capture of gas from coal and developed gas lighting. His house is believed to be the first domestic residence lit with gas lighting.

– In 1812 the Gas Light and Coke Company was founded, which built the world’s first commercial gas supply in London. Westminster Bridge was lit by the company the following year.

– The 1850s and 60s were the golden age of coal gasification, with most towns in the UK and the United States building gasworks. Lighting technology developed leading to major changes: streets were better lit improving public safety, more people began reading and writing with better light outside working hours and shift work became possible in many manufacturing industries.