Clean coal - the reality

Posted by jossc — 10 December 2008 at 3:34pm - Comments

Clean coal technology like this is at work right now in a coal-fired power station near you

Clean coal technology like this is at work right now in a coal-fired power station near you

Energy companies putting in bids to run new coal-fired power stations have been quick to seize upon carbon capture and storage (CCS) as the ideal solution to their biggest problem - explaining why they're so keen to return to using the dirtiest fossil-fuel possible at a time when we need to cut CO2 emissions dramatically to reign-in climate change.

For those of us still unsure just how CCS works at a modern coal plant, the kind folk at thisisreality.org have put together this helpful video to explain the processes already in place to prevent harmfull greenhouse gases escaping during power generation.

So take a look if you have a spare couple of minutes - it's a fascinating insight into the realities behind the operation of a modern fossil-fuelled power station, and tells us a lot about how seriously utility companies take their responsibilities when it comes to tackling climate change.

Er... no it's not. I think you are confusing sulphur dioxide (SO2) removal (which has existed commercially for many years) with carbon dioxide removal (which does not). Easy mistake to make though...

Joss
GPUK web team

Er... no it's not. I think you are confusing sulphur dioxide (SO2) removal (which has existed commercially for many years) with carbon dioxide removal (which does not). Easy mistake to make though... Joss GPUK web team

About Joss

Bass player and backing vox in the four piece beat combo that is the UK Greenpeace Web Experience. In my 6 years here I've worked on almost every campaign and been fascinated by them all to varying degrees. Just now I'm working on Peace and Oceans - which means getting rid of our Trident nuclear weapons system and creating large marine reserves so that marine life can get some protection from overfishing.

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