Planning Application Submitted for 1,600-Megawatt Scottish Coal-Fired Plant

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--An application for a new 1,600-megawatt (MW) coal- and biomass-fired power plant has been made to the Scottish government by Ayrshire Power Limited (Glasgow, Scotland).

The company, which was formed by Dong Energy (Fredericia, Denmark) and Peel Holdings (Manchester, England) in 2008, has confirmed that it has entered the first--or 'gate-checking'--stage of the planning process. The controversial plant, which will be located next to the ageing Hunterston B nuclear power plant in north Ayrshire, will consist of two 800-MW units that will burn 85% coal and 15% biomass. The plant will be capable of producing enough electricity for about 3 million homes.

Toward the end of last year, Dong announced that it was pulling out of the £2 billion ($3 billion) project, citing the global recession and falling energy prices. For additional information, see related news item from October 15, 2009 - Dong Energy Cancels Two Coal-Fired Projects. The project was first proposed at the end of 2008. For additional information, see related news item from December 19, 2008 - Dong Energy and Peel Holdings to Set up $3 Billion, 1,600-Megawatt Coal-Fired Power Plant in Scotland. Environmental groups and some leading politicians have attacked the proposal.

"Having consulted widely on our plans at Hunterston over the last 18 months and taken on board recent energy policy changes, we are pleased to be able to now submit our plans to the Scottish Government," said project director, Muir Miller. "Once they have proceeded through the gate-checking process, we look forward to a further, comprehensive public consultation exercise facilitated by the Scottish Government."

Miller added: "We believe our proposal supports the U.K. and Scottish Governments' commitment to leading the way in developing CCS to assist in decarbonising the U.K.'s electricity sector by 2030. We remain determined to deploy this technology at full-scale on a modern supercritical power station, supported by appropriate regulatory and fiscal measures."

The proposed plant has been designed to include carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, with the goal of eventually capturing 90% of the carbon dioxide produced. Despite this, the project has been condemned by both the Labour and Green political parties in Scotland.

Patrick Harvie MSP, leader to the Green Party, said: "This plant has been dogged by controversy from the start, and ministers now face a possible judicial review if they try and force it through. Let's not waste everyone's time--I invite Peel Energy to accept the will of Parliament and withdraw their application. This project is going nowhere, and if they proceed, they will be wasting taxpayers' time and money, as well as their own. The game is up for new coal plants in Scotland."

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