UK CCS proposals leave technological options open

摘要

The UK government has announced that the construction of new coal-fired power stations will only be approved if they are part-fitted with Carbon Capture and Storage technology. Having been promoted under the slogan "No new coal without CCS", the proposals manage both to have far-reaching implications, but also fall far short of the headline statement. They also serve as a warning in other countries that restrictions on new coal plant - if that is what they are - may be in the offing.rnOne notable element of the announcement is the expansion beyond the coal industry and an apparent insistence on offshore storage. The proposals say any application to build a new gas, oil, biomass, waste-to-energy or coal-fired power station over 300 MW will have to show that there is sufficient space available to retrofit CCS, as well as identify a suitable potential offshore area to store carbon dioxide.