'60,000 new jobs' in cleaner coal power

Published Date: 18 June 2009
By Jenny Haworth

EFFORTS to make coal-fired power stations cleaner could support tens of thousands of jobs, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said yesterday.
Research for the government suggests technology to reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired plants could sustain between 30,000 to 60,000 jobs and bring in up to £4 billion a year by 2030.Mr Miliband unveiled the research by AEA Group on the same day he launched a consultation into plans to develop technology to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from power stations in the UK.The consultation spelt out proposals he first he first outlined in April, to develop the clean coal technology, known as carbon capture and storage (CCS). When fully operating, carbon-capture technology is expected to reduce emissions from power plants by up to 90 per cent.The plans would see up to four new coal-fired power plants part fitted with CCS.Only new coal stations that demonstrated the technology on a section of the plant from day one will be given the go-ahead, under the plansAnd the entire power station will have to be "retrofitted" with CCS technology within five years of it being proven. Mr Miliband said the need for CCS was "incredibly urgent" in order to tackle climate change