The recently achieved advances in materials technology permit the construction and cost efficient operation of steam power stations with super critical live steam. Depending on the pertinent cooling conditions, these power stations with coal-firing achieve efficiencies of 45 to 47%, and with lignite-firing 40 to 42%. New coal-fired power station concepts, which are directed at a further increase in the efficiency and a reduction in emissions, must also be able to compete with these modern conventional coal-fired power stations where the power generating costs are concerned.