C14 Replacement of coal-fired power stations and clean coal technology

Composite of motion 39, and 40 and amendments

Congress applauds the work of the TUC Clean Coal Task Group in identifying the role for clean coal technology as part of the solution to the problem of climate change. With over 35 per cent of the nation’s electricity generated by coal, with peak times increasing to 50 per cent, it is not a case of ‘should we burn coal’ but how we burn it.

Congress recognises the essential need to burn the UK’s indigenous coal reserves cleanly. Decarbonising energy supply is key to meeting UK climate change objectives.

It also welcomes the announcement in the Budget that the Government is to scale up its programme on clean coal to allow for up to four demonstration plants using different capture technologies. Congress welcomes the Government’s recent commitment to develop a framework for clean coal, but believes that there should be a minimum requirement of four full-scale CCS stations by 2020 producing 6.4 gigawatts of electricity, which would reduce gas dependency and save 42 million tonnes/year of CO2 emissions annually.

Further, if the Government’s carbon reduction targets for 2030 to 2050 are to be met it is essential that carbon abatement applies to all fossil fuels, not just coal. Without the approach to carbon reduction which treats hydro carbons equally the longer term abatement targets will not be achieved. The General Council is asked to press the Government on these issues.

Congress understands climate change and global warming are a huge threat. Therefore the need to progress clean coal technologies at a rapid pace is crucial. The current programme needs to be expedited so that the agreed reduction in emission levels can be achieved within the agreed time limits.

Simultaneously, Government must ensure British industry can take advantage of opportunities provided by CCS. Accelerated diffusion and deployment of technology for industrial applications is essential to sustain competitive British industry and meet stretched carbon reduction targets, thus seeing a return on public investment in CCS.

Congress applauds the excellent endeavours of the TUC-led Clean Coal Task Group in constantly providing much-needed reports and data on the newest clean coal burn technologies.

However, it is a great concern that the UK Government constantly states that the UK is leading the way in new technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) when in fact other countries are significantly ahead of the UK in the development of such projects.

There is a greater understanding now than ever before that a sensible, diverse, strategic energy policy is essential so that this nation can go forward in the knowledge that our requirements for future electricity generation are both secure and green and can be supplied in line with realistic emission level reductions within a given time frame. This will entail significant investment in generating capacity and in transmission and distribution networks, and will not be delivered by the market alone. It must be underpinned by a coherent, sustained programme to develop and enhance low-carbon skills.

Congress calls for urgent discussions between the Labour Government and the affiliated TUC unions representing energy and intensive energy industry workers to progress further a much needed diverse and secure energy policy.

Mover:  National Union of Mineworkers
Seconder:  BACM-TEAM

Supporters:  Prospect, Community