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Coal Fired Power Stations: Kingsnorth

Volume 473: debated on Thursday 13 March 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the impact of the likely volume of carbon dioxide of a new coal fired power station at Kingsnorth on meeting the UK’s emissions target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by (a) 2020 and (b) 2050. (189312)

The Secretary of State has made no such formal assessment. We remain committed to meeting the UK’s emissions targets for both 2020 and 2050.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consultation he plans to hold on the development of a mitigation strategy for the environmental and biodiversity impacts in relation to Medway estuary and marshes (a) special protection area, (b) Ramsar site and (c) site of special scientific interest of the proposed power station at Kingsnorth in Kent; and whom he plans to consult. (190108)

The Department is consulting Natural England, the Environment Agency, Medway council and E.ON on the terms of conditions to mitigate or remove any adverse impacts to protected areas and species, should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received, and from whom, on the potential for combined heat and power technology to be included as part of the proposal for the power station at Kingsnorth in Kent; and what discussions he has had on the infrastructure required to (a) capture, (b) transport and (c) utilise the heat to be generated at the proposed Kingsnorth power station. (190186)

Numerous representations have been received from individuals and others, including Greenpeace and the constituency MP, on the use of heat. The Department is discussing the terms of suggested conditions to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to cater for any heat demand that arises should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on whether low carbon energy generation technologies were considered for construction at Kingsnorth in Kent prior to the existing proposal for a coal-fired power station there. (190227)

The Department has given no such consideration to other low carbon energy generation technologies at Kingsnorth. The choice of technology is a commercial matter for the applicant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what assessment his Department has made of likely changes in on-site storage demand for ash at the supercritical units planned at the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; (189713)

(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the operation of the proposed new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth on natural gas imports to the UK;

(3) what assessment he has made of the effect of potential changes in storage requirements for gypsum on the design and build process for the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth;

(4) what assessment he has made of the role that (a) wet and (b) dry electrostatic precipitation technologies will have in the reduction of particulate emissions at the proposed new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what assessment he has made of the effective transmission range of heat to be captured through combined heat and power technology at the proposed coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth; and what representations he has received from industry groups on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will require the implementation of heat capture mechanisms at the proposed Kingsnorth power station; and what consideration has been given to the alternative siting of the power station to improve heat capture options. (190446)

The Department is currently discussing draft planning conditions which include the installation of the necessary infrastructure to supply heat should such a demand arise should the Secretary of State decide to grant consent. Subject to the proper consideration under both planning and environmental regimes the siting of a power station is a matter for the applicant concerned.