Clean-coal power plants move closer

Plans to build up to four new power plants using clean-coal technology moved a step closer today.

A consultation paper into the potential for carbon capture and storage (CSS) technology to be used at coal-fired power stations will be published this summer

Energy minsiter Ed Miliband outlined the plans to parliament today.

He said: "The future of coal in our energy mix poses the starkest dilemma we face: it is a polluting fuel but is used across the world because it is cheap and it is flexible enough to meet fluctuations in demand for power.

"In order to ensure that we maintain a diverse energy mix, we need new coal-fired power stations but only if they can be part of a low carbon future.

"With a solution to the problem of coal, we greatly increase our chances of stopping dangerous climate change. Without it we will not succeed.

"CCS is the only technology with the potential to reduce emissions from fossil fuels by up to 90%. But there must be a global effort to develop this technology and the UK is in a strong position to lead this charge.

"This signals the era of unabated coal is coming to an end, and a new low carbon future for coal with CCS can begin.

"There is no alternative to CCS if we are serious about fighting climate change and retaining a diverse mix of energy sources for our economy."