Ayrshire Power applies to build coal-fired power plant
7 Jun 2010
Glasgow, UK – Ayrshire Power has made a planning application to establish a £3-billion multi-fuel power station with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at Hunterston, North Ayrshire. The company’s plans will now be available for public comment and consideration by the Scottish Government.
The proposed development on a site between the existing Clydeport coal handling facility at the Hunterston Terminal and Hunterston B nuclear power plant would burn both coal and biomass and use highly efficient modern technology with strict emissions control.
The design of the power station is based upon the implementation of demonstration scale CCS technology from start up in line with the latest UK and Scottish Government guidance, according to Ayrshire Power.
As well as eventually capturing 90% of the carbon dioxide produced by the plant, new supercritical power station technology will significantly increase its efficiency and so cut coal consumption by up to 25% compared to existing conventional plants, the company added.
The proposed development would also create a significant number of jobs in North Ayrshire, employing up to 1,600 people at the peak of construction and approximately 160 on an ongoing basis once the site is up and running.
Project director Muir Miller said: “We believe our proposal supports the UK and Scottish Governments’ commitment to leading the way in developing CCS to assist in decarbonising the UK’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.”
Ayrshire Power Limited was formed in June 2008 by Peel Energy and Denmark-based DONG Energy to develop plans for a new 1600 MW multi-fuel power station at Hunterston. In October 2009, Dong Energy withdrew from its partnership with Peel Energy but remains its design partner.
