Conversion of coal to electricity

In the conversion of coal to electricity by the gasification of said coal to a combustible synthesis gas and the combustion of said gas in an electricity generating mode to thereby produce electricity;

• the improvement which comprises conducting said gasification of coal with air to a combustible synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide, hydrogen and nitrogen and contacting said combustible gas with a composite catalyst comprising a carbon monoxide reducing metal species component and a hydrocarbon converting crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite component having a high silica to alumina ratio of at least about 15, a constraint index of 1 to 12 and a crystal density of not substantially below about 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter, wherein the weight ratio of said zeolite to said metal species is in the approximate range of between about 0.2/1 and about 5/1, at temperatures of about 450.degree. to 850.degree. F., space velocity of about 0.5 to 10 WHSV and pressures up to about 1000 psig sufficient to convert said combustion synthesis gas to a product comprising a normally liquid fraction comprising C.sub.5 to C.sub.11 hydrocarbon compounds and a gas fraction comprising C.sub.4.sup.- hydrocarbons;
• continuously burning said C.sub.4.sup.- gas in an electricity generating mode;
• accumulating and storing said normally liquid fraction in the liquid state;
• and intermittently burning said stored normally liquid fraction in an electricity generating mode.