Coal-fired concern

Published on Friday 9 July 2010 16:37

It is encouraging that Scottish and Southern Energy plans to develop a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at its gas-fired power station at Peterhead.

Unlike the plans to construct a new, largely unabated coal-fired power station at Hunterston, which will result in a massive net gain in climate-wrecking emissions, this is a real attempt to tackle emissions from existing electricity generation.

Scotland has the capacity to move to an entirely renewable electricity supply and this should be our priority. There is merit, however, in demonstrating how emissions from existing fossil fuel plants might be reduced both for the short-term benefits and in order that such technology can be shared with other countries.

The UK Committee on Climate Change has called for the government to consider funding at least one CCS demonstration on gas as part of its proposals to fund four projects. Peterhead could play an important role but should not be justified on the grounds of enhanced oil recovery from the North Sea.

Retrofitting carbon capture on an existing plant will help Scotland meet our gas emissions reduction targets whereas constructing a new power station will result in massive additional emissions. As well as resulting in a huge increase in greenhouse gas emissions, the proposal at Hunterston would destroy more than 30 hectares of an important wildlife site.

We urge the Scottish Government to reject the application of a new, largely unabated coal plant at Hunterston, work to unlock the potential for renewables and demonstrate the potential of CCS on existing plants.

LLOYD AUSTIN

RSPB Scotland

DUNCAN McLAREN

Friends of the Earth Scotland

RICHARD DIXON

WWF Scotland