£2bn coal-fired power station planned in Scotland

A £2bn coal-fired power station is being planned in Scotland by Danish firm Dong Energy and Peel Energy.

The plant, which would be the first new conventional power station in Scotland for 30 years, would be built next to Hunterston B, the Ayrshire nuclear power station.

Hunterston B is due to be shutdown in 2011.

The proposed 1,600 megawatt coal power station would be able to power 2m homes and could be switched on within 10 years.

The station would be mostly powered by coal but could also use up to 15% biomass, reported the Scotsman.

The plans come days after the Scottish government announced it would demand new power stations be ready to incorporate technology that captures carbon.

Dong and Peel said they would be ready to use carbon capture and storage at the earliest possible opportunity.