UK firms up 'clean coal' plans
Framework document confirms position announced earleir this year that there will be no new coal-fired power stations built in England and Wales unless they are equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The document, which is based on a co
London - The UK government has issued its Framework for the Development of Clean Coal, which, confirms its position announced earleir this year that there will be no new coal-fired power stations built in England and Wales unless they are equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The document, which is based on a consultation launched in June, is stated to set out the most environmentally ambitious set of coal conditions of any country in the world.
Under the Framwork, to gain development consent all new coal plant will have to show that they will demonstrate the full CCS chain (capture, transport and storage) from the outset on at least 300 MW net of their total output.
A programme of up to four commercial-scale CCS demonstrations, including both pre-combustion and post-combustion capture technologies, will be funded by a new CCS Incentive. Legislation to introduce this has been proposed for the forthcoming Parliamentary session.
The Government report envisages a long-term transition to clean coal, with the demo plants retrofitting CCS to their full capacity by 2025, and the CCS Incentive able to provide financial support for their retrofit.
“A rolling review process, which is planned to report by 2018, will consider the case for new regulatory and financial measures to further drive the move to clean coal. In the event that CCS is evidently not going to become a viable technology option, an appropriate regulatory approach for managing emissions from coal power stations will be needed,” it also stated.
The Government also confirmed that it had received two bids - from E.ON and Scottish Power - to proceed to the next stage of the current CCS demonstration competition. It is expected that contracts for the detailed design stage will be concluded early next year.
In addition, the European Commission has provisionally selected Powerfuels to receive €180m to develop a pre-combustion CCS power station at Hatfield. The Commission and Powerfuels are now negotiating the terms of the funding.
Readers' comments (1)
Geoff Roberts | 18 Jan 2010 2:22 pm
I welcomed the announcement of coal-fired power plants transitioning to CCS. However, it should be noted that "clean-coal technology" isn't new, it was being developed in the 1980's by the then NCB, but well documented historical issues regarding overproduction & subsidy, strikes and a lack of alternative market development saw "King Coal" lose it's crown and resulted in the systematic decimation of the UK mining industry as we witnessed the "Dash for Gas" in the 1990's and early 2000's. Much of the impetus for clean coal technology in the UK was lost at that time as coal fell from favour.
Due to high worldwide energy prices, coal is now becoming a more viable alternative, as it is cost-effective, albeit with reservations about it's environmental impact.
It should be known that UK Coal Fired Power Station' emissions are much cleaner today than they were just 15 years ago, and CCS is just another step on the way to ultimate clean coal technology. CCS isn't utopia in itself, but if impemented successfully, it will be a major contribution to the self-sufficiency of the UK's energy supplies over the next few decades; coal currently provides 30-50% of the UK electricity demand. At the same time CCS may help secure the remaining UK Coal Industry, reducing coal imports, offering sustainable employment to skilled coal workers, and contributing tangible wealth to the UK economy; all as part of a balanced Energy Policy by the government.
Bring it on!!
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