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Plans for two coal power stations | |
(2 days later) | |
Two energy firms have unveiled plans to build the first new coal-fired power stations in the UK for 20 years. | |
RWE Npower has submitted proposals to spend more than £1bn to replace its existing coal-fired station at Tilbury, Essex, by 2013. | |
And another German company, E.ON, is also hoping to replace its plant in Kingsnorth, Kent, by 2012. | |
The Department for Trade and Industry says both could be built if they meet planning and environmental regulations. | |
Npower says its new plant would emit 22% less carbon than existing coal-fired power stations and would be designed to use "carbon capture and storage" technology when it becomes viable. | |
It says the station would also have the capacity to burn carbon-neutral, sustainable, organic fuels known as "biomass". | |
E.ON, the company which runs energy supplier Powergen, says its development would reduce carbon emissions by more than two million tonnes a year compared to existing units. | |
CARBON CAPTURE Clean-coal technologies | CARBON CAPTURE Clean-coal technologies |
But BBC business correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones said coal is still the dirtiest option for energy firms to choose. | |
Energy mix | |
Andy Duff, chief executive of RWE Npower, said its 1600-megawatt "high efficiency" station 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 that technology 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. | The company began a feasibility study into the plant in April last year, but has not yet formally applied for permission to build. |
HAVE YOUR SAY Compared with the 'third world' our emissions are almost negligible Philip, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Compared with the 'third world' our emissions are almost negligible Philip, London Send us your comments |
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." | 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. | |
E.ON submitted a planning application last December. |