Clean coal consultation

A consultation document has been published that details how the UK government proposes to reconcile the need to curb emissions of carbon from future coal-fired power stations with the need to maintain a diverse energy mix.

It proposes that new coal-fired power stations should only be given consent in the UK if they demonstrate carbon capture and storage (CCS) on at least 300MW net (around 400MW gross) of capacity from day one. Each demonstration project would have to store 20m tonnes of CO₂ over 10-15 years.

Alongside the government's ongoing competition to build a post-combustion demonstration, up to three further projects including those involving pre-combustion technology could be supported. The document says that the primary legislation required to implement this mechanism will be sought at the earliest possible opportunity.

It goes on to say 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.