The utility has submitted an environmental ‘scoping document’ to the UK department of trade and industry, outlining proposals for a new GBP2 billion power station consisting of three 800MW, high efficiency, supercritical coal-fired units, which would generate enough energy to supply around 3.5 million homes.
RWE npower said that the new efficient power station would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 22% per unit of electricity generated compared to an equivalent sized existing UK coal-fired power station; representing a reduction of over three million tonnes of the greenhouse gas per year.
According to RWE npower, the new facility would also be carbon capture ready, which, once carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is proven, would enable the carbon dioxide produced to be transported to the North Sea and stored in geological formations. The new station would also be developed to include facilities for burning up to 10% biomass to further reduce emissions.
RWE npower commented that Blyth is an ideal location for a new power station because of the proximity to port and rail facilities for transporting materials. The coastal location could also put Blyth at the centre of the development of CCS technology, a potential major industry in the future, RWE npower said.
The UK needs to maintain a broad mix of energy generation to guarantee secure electricity in the years ahead, said Kevin Akhurst, managing director of generation and renewables at RWE npower. A modern ‘supercritical’ coal plant would result in a significant net reduction in carbon dioxide levels, but we are also proposing to make the power station ready for carbon capture and storage technology.
The utility said that, if development of the project goes ahead, the new power station would be operational by 2014.
