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Coal power station plan unveiled Coal power station plan unveiled
(about 2 hours later)
An energy firm has unveiled plans to build the first new coal-fired power station in the UK for 20 years.An energy firm has unveiled plans to build the first new coal-fired power station in the UK for 20 years.
RWE Npower is in a race with another German firm, Eon, to build a coal-fired power station in Britain. RWE Npower is competing with another German company, Eon, to build the plant by 2013.
Npower wants to spend £1bn on a plant at Tilbury, Essex, replacing an existing coal-fired station. Npower says it wants to spend more than £1bn to replace its existing coal-fired station at Tilbury, Essex.
It says a new coal-fired station would emit more than 20% less carbon, and could include "carbon capture" technology if that became viable. And it says the new plant would emit 22% less carbon and be designed to use "carbon capture and storage" technology when it becomes viable.
But BBC business correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said coal is still the dirtiest option for energy firms to choose, when they build new power stations. Npower says the new station would also have the capacity to burn carbon-neutral, sustainable, organic fuels known as 'biomass'.
He added that Npower was also investing in gas-fired stations and wind farms, but that it said coal would continue to be an essential ingredient in Britain's energy mix. BBC business correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said coal is still the dirtiest option for energy firms to choose.
Energy mix
According to a proposal submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry, npower's 1600-megawatt "high efficiency" station would cut carbon dioxide emissions by almost two million tonnes a year compared to existing plants in the UK.
Andy Duff, chief executive of npower, said it would be able to use carbon capture - trapping waste gas before it is released into the atmosphere - when it is ready.
But npower concedes there are "many financial, legal, regulatory and technical hurdles" to overcome before carbon capture can be implemented.
The company began a feasibility study into the plant in April last year, but has not yet formally applied for permission to build.
Nigel Staves, manager of Tilbury power station, said: "We very much look forward to hearing the views of local people and organisations and taking these on board."
Last month, npower said it was committing £900m for a new gas-fired power station in Wales or Nottinghamshire and three new wind farms.