EU must develop carbon capture measures or risk wiping out renewable energy benefits, warns MEP

Parliament has been told that coal-fired power station companiesshould be compelled to adopt so-called carbon capture and storage(CCS) techniques.

Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, UK ALDE deputy ChrisDavies also called for new funding measures to allow the first CCSdevelopers to be able to claim 'tradable' credits for every tonneof carbon they store.

He declared, "The development of CCS must be brought forward andthere is no time to lose."

CCS is a process which involves capturing CO2 from gases discardedby industry and transporting it to sites where it can be stored upto 2km underground for an indefinite period.

Davies warned that unless coal-fired power plants are forced toadopt CCS to prevent carbon emissions escaping into the atmosphereall the benefits of developing wind power and other forms ofrenewable energy will be "completely wiped out."

Calling on the incoming French presidency of the EU to make theissue a priority, the MEP told the conference that coal isresponsible for 24 per cent of Europe's CO2 emissions and that 50new power stations are due to be built within the next fiveyears.
"Every one of these will increase the problem of global warming,wiping out the gains made from 2,000 or so wind turbines," hesaid.

"The world's demand for electricity requires the use of coal but toallow the construction of hundreds more dirty plants undermines allother strategies to reduce emissions."

The European commission estimates that by 2030 the cost ofoperating CCS-equipped coal-fired power plants will be only 10 percent more than at present.

According to the International Energy Outlook 2007, coal provides26 per cent of total world energy consumption and for 43 per centof electricity use. Over the next 10-20 years world coalconsumption, however, is set to increase to 74 per cent.

Davies says a temporary mechanism needs to be introduced to theEU's emissions trading system to act as an incentive tooperators.

"At present, the power companies are waiting to see if the costs ofCCS will come down. By introducing a short-term 'double credit'incentive I want to encourage operators to build CCS plants soonerrather than later."

He added, "CCS is not a magic bullet but by curbing the release ofCO2 emissions into the atmosphere it can help the world buy thetime it needs to develop zero carbon technology for thelong-term."

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