A research team led by Xie Heping, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Shenzhen University, has proposed a novel coal power generation approach with near-zero carbon emissions.

Published in the journal Energy Reviews on Thursday, the study introduces a zero-carbon-emission direct coal fuel cell (ZC-DCFC) technology, according to a statement from the college's website.

Unlike traditional coal-fired power plants that burn fuel, the new method would directly convert chemical energy from coal into electricity through electrochemical oxidation, bypassing traditional combustion.

Fossil fuels like coal remain the backbone of global energy supply, with technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle dominating coal power generation. However, their energy conversion rates are limited to around 45 percent, and they emit more than 800 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour.

Since 2018, the team has been developing the ZC-DCFC concept and has made breakthroughs in high-performance materials, fuel treatment, and electrode design.

The technology could be particularly relevant for tapping deep underground coal resources. As shallow coal reserves deplete, it could help transform coal from a high-emission fuel into a fundamentally cleaner energy source.