Gasification facilities consume a variety of carbon-based feedstocks, including natural gas, coal, petroleum, petcoke, biomass, and industrial wastes. From the 2010 database, the "World Gasification Operating Capacity – by Feedstock" chart shows that coal now dominates as the feedstock in 51% or 36,315 MW_th of syngas capacity, representing 53 plants. Petroleum (including fuel oil, refinery residue, and naphtha) is the second leading feedstock, with 17,938 MW_th, or 25% of total gasification capacity, covering 56 plants. Natural gas provides 22%, with petcoke about 1% and biomass/waste accounting for 0.5%.

Exhibit 1. World Gasification Operating Capacity – by Feedstock

Syngas Capacity by Product

The flexibility and versatility of gasification plants enable them to offer a wide range of products, including liquid transportation fuels, chemicals, fertilizers, power, steam, gaseous fuels, and various other products (e.g., ammonia and hydrogen). The "World Gasification Operating Capacity – by Product" chart shows that, for operating plants identified in the 2010 database, chemicals and liquid transportation fuels represent the leading products with 45% and 38%, respectively, of the world gasification capacity. Chemicals are generated at 112 plants and liquid transportation fuels at five plants. Other products are power (11%) and gaseous fuels (6%). Power generation occurs presently at 17 gasification plants worldwide.

Exhibit 2. World Gasification Operating Capacity – by Product

Syngas Capacity by Technology

According to the 2010 database, at least 15 different gasification technologies are now in operation in plants around the world. However, three commercial technologies are currently dominant and hold 89% of the 2010 world market. As illustrated in the "World Gasification Operating Capacity – by Technology" chart, Shell leads the way with 45 plants, accounting for 41% of world gasification capacity, or 28,822 MW_th of syngas output. Sasol Lurgi gasifiers are used at nine plants, representing 25% (17,753 MW_th) of the total, and GE gasifiers are used at 67 plants, representing 23% (16,334 MW_th) of total syngas output. The remaining 11% is spread among a dozen other gasification technologies.

Exhibit 3. World Gasification Operating Capacity – by Technology

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