New power station given cautious welcome

Friends of the Earth Cymru have given a cautious welcome to a proposal to build a new type of coal fired electricity station in the Dulais Valley. An application for an 480 MW Integrated Gasification and Combined Cycle (IGCC) coal powered scheme has just been filed by a company called Valleys Energy for a site at Drym.

The environmentalists say that the technology could have a modest place in UK energy policy in principle but there is still the potential for damaging effects to communities and countryside especially if there is renewed pressure to use open cast coal. Valleys Energy have stated an aim to use a mix of anthracite from Tower Colliery and imported petcoke (cheap petroleum coke) but Friends of the Earth Cymru warn that there are no guarantees about this. The site also lies adjacent an ecologically valuable bog which may be adversely affected.

The technology gasifies the coal (heating until mainly carbon monoxide is given off) rather than burning it. This allows the gas stream to be cleaned and converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide at high temperature and pressure. The hydrogen powers a turbine and the CO2 is vented to atmosphere although the company have suggested that sequestration (1) of the CO2 would be facilitated by the process. Friends of the Earth Cymru welcome research into sequestration but point out that there are no guarantees that it would be workable or cost-effective.

Modest capacity of IGCC coal fired generation would be acceptable in the transition to a mainly renewably energy powered future say Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Energy spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Cymru, Neil Crumpton, said:

"There is some scope for a small number of such cleaner, if only slightly more efficient, coal powered schemes within a climate conscious UK energy policy. However we have concerns about the likely increased pressure for more destructive open cast coal mining and also damage to a sensitive bog adjacent the proposed site.

The new process would produce hydrogen gas which could be highly valuable in stimulating new clean energy technologies and businesses in the Swansea region. Sequestration, or piping the scheme's carbon dioxide emissions into an Irish Sea aquifer to minimise its global warming impact, IF it works, could also be facilitated by this type of gasification process and research into this could be important worldwide."

Friends of the Earth Cymru will study the detail of the application and make more detailed representations or specific objections if necessary.

Notes

1) Sequestration means that the CO2 is pumped by pipe line into suitable geological storage strata (of the Irish Sea in this instance) thereby minimising the global warming effect of the power stations emissions. The ideal high temperature and pressure conditions of IGCC technology would help facilitates this possibility.