Kingsnorth and other coal-fired power stations should be delayed until facilities exist to store their huge carbon emissions underground, the RSPB says today in response to a speech by Business Secretary John Hutton.

Mr Hutton’s comments implied support for a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, and up to seven more coal-fired power plants elsewhere.

Ruth Davis, Head of Climate Change Policy at the RSPB, said: “Plans to store carbon dioxide from plants like Kingsnorth are one thing but having the technology to do so is quite another, and still a long way off.

“What is the point of claiming to lead action to tackle climate change, introducing the world’s first climate change legislation, then sanctioning much greater use of the dirtiest energy source there is?

“Even the most efficient coal-fired generation releases twice the carbon dioxide of gas. Failure to delay coal-fired development until carbon storage technology is available is irresponsible and unnecessary. We should be investing far more in energy efficiency and renewables instead.

“Climate change is posing huge threats to people and wildlife. We must face up to this and start to cut our emissions rapidly, especially emissions from the power generation sector.”

Contacts:
Ruth Davis 07949 024173
Cath Harris, Media Officer, RSPB: 01767 693554 / 07739 921464.

Notes:

Research published in January showed that climate change could alter the habitats of Europe’s birds, forcing them to move an average of 500 km north and east by 2100. A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds, by Professor Rhys Green and others, published by the RSPB, Durham University and Lynx Edicions). More details here http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-180304

A study published in the journal Nature in 2004 suggested that without urgent action, up to one third of all land-base species would be facing extinction by the middle of this century, because of climate change.

Coal fired generation results in approximately 850 – 900 kg of CO2 being emitted for each megawatt of electricity generated. Efficient gas generation generates about 400 kg CO2. If the heat generated by electricity generation from gas were used more effectively, this would further increase the CO2 efficiency of the plant.

European Renewable Energy Directive will establish the requirement for 20 per cent of the EU’s energy to come from renewables by 2020. In the UK, this could mean that by 2020 as much as 45 per cent of our electricity will need to be generated from renewable technologies. For this, we have to make sure that investment in power generation goes into clean power now – not into dirty coal.

source:
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
· The Lodge · Sandy · Beds SG19 2DL

Press office telephone 01767 681577

Website:www.rspb.org.uk