New technologies to reduce sulfur oxide emissions often involve improvements to flue gas sulfur removal techniques from all combustion sources in coal-fired power plants.

These advances include improvements in efficiency of combustion and pollution control systems in conventional plants, as well as modern coal-fired power plants such as the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC).  New coal-fired combustion processes are also being investigated with the aim of capturing and storing or using carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions because of their implication in global warming. Major efforts are underway to develop coal-gasification technologies, which convert coal into a gas that is burned in a combustion turbine. IGCC is much cleaner than traditional coal-fired plants, uses less water, and increases the feasibility of capturing CO₂ emissions.