To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the relative effectiveness of pre-combustion and post-combustion clean coal technologies; and if he will make a statement. (167045)

[holding answer 22 November 2007]: My Department has funded two studies, the reports from which will shortly be available at:

www.berr.gov.uk

which have looked at pre- and post-combustion technologies. These show that both technologies are potentially capable of capturing 85 to 90 per cent. of carbon dioxide produced.

We have selected post-combustion capture for the UK demonstration project since this meets our objective of demonstrating technology that is relevant and transferable to key global markets—particularly in emerging economies. However, we consider that all CCS technologies have the potential to make valuable contributions to reducing carbon emissions and we expect to see all CCS options rolled out once they have been successfully demonstrated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of pre-combustion clean coal technologies in meeting UK carbon reduction targets. (167046)

[holding answer 22 November 2007]: A modelling study, available at:

www.berr.gov.uk/files/file19834

undertaken to inform the UK's Carbon Abatement Technologies strategy showed that carbon capture and storage (involving the deployment of both pre- and post-combustion technologies) would contribute to the UK's carbon reduction targets from about 2020.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans his Department is considering for the encouragement of the use of pre-combustion coal technologies. (167047)

[holding answer 22 November 2007]: The Department has a £35 million programme to support all carbon abatement technologies, including pre-combustion capture technologies and we have funded two research projects, the reports from which will shortly be available at:

www.berr.gov.uk

looking specifically at pre-combustion technologies. We are also supporting the wider deployment of all CCS technologies through the development of a regulatory framework to govern the storage of carbon dioxide and other ongoing policy work.

We selected post-combustion capture for the UK demonstration project since this meets our objective of demonstrating technology that is relevant and transferable to key global markets—particularly in emerging economies. However, we consider that all CCS technologies have the potential to make valuable contributions to reducing carbon emissions and we expect to see all CCS options rolled out once they have been successfully demonstrated.