Environment Agency says
the Government’s decision to set the demonstration
of ‘carbon capture’ as a condition for new
coal-fired power stations is the most significant
environmental measure since the introduction
of the Climate Change Act
The Chairman of the
Environment Agency, Lord Smith, today said
that the Government’s decision to set the
demonstration of ‘carbon capture’ as a condition
for new coal-fired power stations is the
most significant environmental measure since
the introduction of the Climate Change Act.
He said that carbon
capture for coal power is a key element
of a sustainable energy policy – which includes
improved energy efficiency, combined heat
and power, carbon-free coal and gas, safe
nuclear power and a big increase in renewable
energy generation.
And he welcomed the
key role that the Environment Agency will
play in bringing the new technology into
operation by assessing the effectiveness
and commercial viability of CCS.
He was responding to
the Government’s plans to establish up to
four Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) demonstration
projects and setting out the conditions
for ‘clean coal’ electricity in the future.
Coal power is currently one of the dirtiest
forms of electricity generation – producing
over 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions
annually.
But carbon capture and storage, which involves
capturing the carbon dioxide emitted from
the burning of fossil fuels like coal and
storing it deep underground, has the potential
to reduce CO2 emissions from coal by 90%.
The Environment Agency
has previously warned that emissions from
coal power stations must be dramatically
reduced if the UK is to meet its 2050 target
of an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Other measures announced today include:
up to four CCS demonstration
projects proposed by 2020,
conditions on existing coal fired power
stations to retrofit CCS technology within
five year of the Environment Agency assessing
it as technically and commercially viable,
looking to introduce an emissions performance
standard to implement these conditions.
Lord Chris Smith, Chairman of the Environment
Agency, said:
“This is the most important
environmental decision the Government has
taken, bar the Climate Change Act itself.
We need to reduce dramatically the emissions
from coal power stations and carbon capture
technology offers real hope of a new era
of ‘clean coal’. It is an essential element
of any sensible energy policy for the next
20 years.
“This has the potential
to change the face of power generation and
enable the UK to sell this technology to
the rest of the world. I’m determined that
the Environment Agency will play a major
role using our expertise in determining
its effectiveness.
“We have been for pressing
for the introduction of Carbon Capture and
Storage technology for some time and will
do all we can to ensure it is developed
as soon as possible to help us meet the
ambitious carbon emissions reduction target
of 80% by 2050.”
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Environment Agency acts
to reduce sewage overflows into sea and
rivers
Further action on sewage
overflows has been taken by the Environment
Agency in England and Wales to ensure they
pose a minimal risk to the quality of rivers
and seas
New measures to ensure
rivers and coastal waters are protected
The Environment Agency
announced it has taken further action on
sewage overflows in England and Wales to
ensure they pose a minimal risk to the quality
of rivers and seas. It is the conclusion
of a 20-year comprehensive programme by
the organisation to reduce the pollution
risks posed by sewage overflows.
The Environment Agency
has worked with water and sewage companies
to prioritise the most polluting overflows
in a £2.5bn investment programme since
the water industry was privatised in 1989.
By the end of 2008, around 6,000 of the
highest risk overflows had been rebuilt,
improved or eliminated, resulting in major
improvements to water quality in rivers
and around the coastlines in England and
Wales.
The remaining 4,193
overflows had been identified as posing
a low risk to the environment. Their potential
to cause pollution is low or they are only
used in extreme circumstances. The Environment
Agency has now set legal standards for them
to provide additional protection for rivers
and coastal waters.
Sewage overflows have
historically played an important role in
the sewerage system. They allow excess water
and sewage to release into the sea or rivers
during extreme weather such as heavy rain
or flooding. This has prevented it from
backing up into streets and homes.
Water quality in rivers
and bathing waters around England and Wales
has been steadily improving over the past
20 years. For example, 76 per cent of English
rivers are of 'very good' or 'good' quality,
up from 55 per cent in 11000. Bathing water
standards have also increased from 32 per
cent in 11000 to 70 per cent last year.
The work the Environment Agency has required
water and sewerage companies to carry out
to reduce the impact of sewer overflows
has made a significant contribution to these
improvements.
Paul Leinster, Chief
Executive at the Environment Agency said:
“We want the cleanest
possible rivers and seas. To achieve this,
the amount of pollution going into them
needs to reduce. We’ve been working with
the water and sewerage companies to identify
the highest sources of pollution from sewage
overflows and together have acted to tackle
them.
“By also bringing the
lower risk overflows under stricter regulation,
we’re ensuring the quality of rivers and
coastal waters continues to be protected
and improved. Water and sewerage companies
now have a legal duty to monitor and maintain
the overflows so that there are no serious
pollution incidents. We will enforce this
wherever necessary.
“Water utilities have
a big responsibility in helping to maintain
and improve inland and coastal waters. The
programme of river and habitat protection
the Environment Agency oversees will mean
that rivers and coastal waters are protected
for people, wildlife and the environment.”
Thomas Bell, at the
Marine Conservation Society, said: “Together
with the Blueprint for Water partners we
have been pushing hard for these sewage
overflows to be reviewed and formally licensed.
It’s great news that the Environment Agency
has now done so. Legal standards for pollution
along the coast and rivers have gone up.
The public expects better protection for
itself and the environment, and tighter
control of sewage overflow discharges will
be vital in achieving this.”
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Notes for editors
The water quality data figures for rivers
and bathing waters uses the General Quality
Assessment classification scheme, which
is designed to provide an accurate and consistent
assessment of the state of water quality
and how it changes over time. Under the
EU Water Framework Directive, water quality
will be assessed in future using a new,
tougher methodology.
