Clean Coal the Way Forward?
April 12, 2006 at 10:11 am
Npower is currently looking into plans for a ‘clean coal’ power plant. This type of energy generation uses chemical processes to remove and contain carbon dioxide so that less is released into the atmosphere, reducing emmsions by up to 90% a year.
The plant, which is being looked at in a feasibility study by npower at present could be developed by 2016. This is part of RWE npower’s commitment to invest in low C02 emitting energy generation, other options include wind power and ‘combined cycle’ gas fired power stations (which utilise the waste heat from the gas turbine to make steam to generate additional electricity).
As well as helping to meet environmental targets by reducing emissions, ‘clean coal’ generation could also help to reduce household bills, making us less dependent on dwindling gas supplies. This is a high priority after continual price rises over the last year and continued concern over the countries gas stores.
