Consultation on new UK coal power stations

The Department of Energy and Climate Change is consulting on its clean coal framework. The consultation details how the Government proposes to reconcile curbing emissions of carbon from future coal fired power stations in the UK with the need to maintain a secure diverse energy mix. It proposes that new coal fired power stations should only be given consent in the UK if they demonstrate CCS (carbon capture and storage) on at least 300MW net (around 400MW gross) of capacity from day one. Each demonstration project would have to store 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over 10-15 years. It also proposes that all new coal fired power stations should be required to retrofit CCS to their full capacity within five years of CCS being proven. The consultation document also explores whether this requirement should apply to existing coal fired power stations. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said: "The conditions we're proposing for new coal are the most environmentally ambitious of any country in the world, requiring the demonstration of CCS on a substantial proportion of any new power station and the 100 per cent retrofit of CCS when it's proven. "At the same time, by providing funding for demonstrations, we can maintain coal as part of our energy mix, supporting diversity and therefore security of supply. "By acting early, jobs will also be created as Britain develops the expertise in what could be a major new industry, with CCS projects offering the potential to form the hubs for clusters of low carbon industries." The closing date for responses to the consultation is 9 September 2009.