Archived press release

Kilroot pollutes: must close by 2010

1 December 2004

Kilroot power station should close by 2010 according to Friends of the Earth who today demanded a public inquiry into the future of the plant. The organisation made its call in response to a planning application by management at the coal-fired power station that would see electricity costs rise and the ageing plant continue to pollute until 2025.

Management at the Carrickfergus generator hope to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) equipment in order to reduce the gases responsible for acid rain. FGD is an expensive capital investment and electricity prices could rise to enable the costs to be recovered. Lisa Fagan, Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, explained why an environmental pressure group was opposing the installation of equipment to reduce acid rain:

"FGD, while reducing the gases responsible for acid rain, increases those that cause climate change [1]. Kilroot is an elderly and inefficient power station: we call it a carbon dinosaur. Without these new measures, it will be forced to close by 2010 but with them it will continue to cause climate change until 2025. And electricity consumers will have to foot the bill."

Ms Fagan continued:

"This proposal prolongs the life of Northern Ireland's single biggest source of carbon dioxide, the main gas responsible for climate change. In doing so, it delays our modernisation to a low-carbon economy. It's important we make this transition now and not procrastinate. The Kilroot planning application must be the subject of a public inquiry."

Friends of the Earth set out a five-point case against the application to install FGD at the Co. Antrim plant:

1. Contrary to Government policy on reducing carbon dioxide emissions Flue Gas Desulphurisation
will lead to an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which is contrary to Government and Northern Ireland Assembly policy on reducing emissions of climate-changing gases.

2. Unable to meet Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control standards
Kilroot is unlikely to meet the standards recommended under the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control regime.[2]

3. Out of date technology
Kilroot is an old power station which can’t easily be updated with the most advanced, efficient and clean technology. The installation of FGD is an attempt to extend the life of this ageing station. It will, however, become increasingly inefficient resulting in ever higher CO2 emissions. The best option would be to close the plant and invest in renewable forms of energy such as wind, solar, tidal and biomass.

4. Fuel diversity
The planned second electricity interconnector with the Republic of Ireland, together with renewable sources of energy, eliminate the need to retain coal in order to provide energy diversity.

5. Expense
FGD is an expensive capital investment and could result in higher electricity bills to enable AES Kilroot Power Ltd to recover the cost.

Notes

[1] (back) The burning of coal releases a gas called sulphur dioxide (SO2). Sulphur dioxide reacts with water in the atmosphere to create sulphuric acid (H2SO4), also known as acid rain. Acid rain has had devastating effects on the forests on northern European countries. Flue Gas Desulphurisation removes sulphur dioxide from the chimneys of coal-fired power stations, thus helping to combat acid rain. FGD requires significant levels of energy to operate and therefore reduces the efficiency of the power station by about 2 percentage points, leading to an increase in emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).

[2] (back) The Executive Summary (October 2004) of the Draft Reference Document on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control, Best Available Techniques for Large Combustion Plants recommends a standard of 36 to 40% efficiency, or an increase of 3% if the starting level of efficiency is too low to ever be technically able to achieve at least 36%, for coal fired power stations. Kilroot’s efficiency is around 34 - 36% at present, therefore it is unlikely to attain, or sustain, the recommended standard.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust