Carbon Capture

Although some years away from a full-scale commercial system, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Technology has been successfully demonstrated and is considered a long-term viable solution1 to eliminate the vast majority of CO2 emissions from new 'Green' Coal Power Stations.
Carbon dioxide capture would take place at the 'Green' Coal Power Stations with the 'captured' CO2 being pumped for permanent storage underground in a variety of depositories including coal seams, saline aquifers or depleted oil reservoirs. The injection of CO2 could also be used to produce more oil from our declining reserves (Enhanced Oil Recovery).
1. “CO2 Capture and Storage is practical, safe and will be economic for coal at a CO2 price of 20 Euro /tonne”
: 1st EU Conference on CO2 Capture and Storage, Brussels 20-22 April 2005:

MOVING FORWARD

Green Coal can only be delivered with the UK Government's support. The Government needs to:


• Signal a long-term role for Coal in the UK's Energy Policy
• Support the development of Green Coal
• Provide Incentives for Clean Coal Technology
• Support the indigenous Coal Industry
• Encourage the use and development of Biomass
Support the research and development of Carbon Capture and Storage technologies.

Low Carbon Power Generation for the 21st Century

It’s Time for Coal

Given the recent uncertainties and price volatilities surrounding other fuels, it is time to confirm Coal's role as an essential part of the UK's longer-term energy strategy. New proven carbon abatement technologies and the potential for co-firing with Biomass mean that clean or 'Green' Coal offers a sensible low carbon option for electricity generation. This combined with low costs and diverse, plentiful and secure supplies makes Coal a fuel choice that must now be grasped.
'Green' Coal can make a key contribution in helping the UK meet Kyoto targets by reducing CO2 emissions from Coal generation by over 40%. Beyond these reductions, comes the potential of Carbon Capture technologies that offer a realistic prospect of providing a energy source that far exceeds the long-term targets.

DELIVERING 'GREEN' COAL

There are three key steps to delivering CO2 emission reductions of over 40% from the current levels arising from coal generation, these are:


1. Co-firing with Biomass
2. Clean 'Green' Coal Burn
3. Smarter Greener Production