RWE npower, the UK-based subsidiary of German utility RWE, has revealed plans for a 1,600MW clean coal power station to replace its existing facility in Tilbury, Essex. The company commented that construction of the new facility would cost over GBP1 billion and that it would have the capacity to reduce carbon emissions by 22% per unit of electricity generated.

According to RWE npower, the 22% reduction in emissions would result in a carbon dioxide reduction of almost two million tons per year, as compared to its existing coal-fired plant in the UK.

The company added that the plant would be developed to include facilities for burning carbon neutral sustainable organic fuels known as ‘biomass.’ The plant, which the company expects to be operational by 2013, will also be designed to accommodate carbon capture and storage technology at a later date.

Andy Duff, chief executive of RWE npower, said: Coal is a vital component of the UK’s future generation mix, but the environmental impact must be addressed. A ‘supercritical’ coal plant on its own would result in a significant net reduction in CO2 levels, but we have also chosen to make the power station ready for carbon capture and storage technology.

According to The Times, RWE npower’s announcement comes alongside growing concerns about the ability of UK generation capacity to meet consumer demands. The publication commented that Britain is expected to lose up to 25GW of generation capacity over the coming 10 to 15 years, due to increasingly stringent environmental legislations that are decreasing generation at older coal- and oil-fired plants.

The Times cited Mr Duff as saying: Tilbury is due to close around 2013 to 2015. London is very short of power, an awful lot of demand is created in the South, with an awful lot of generation in the North of the country, so it makes a lot of sense for us to put a new plant there. The publication added that the new facility would produce enough electricity for 80% of Essex.

In February, RWE npower announced it was pledging GBP900 million of investment to a new gas-fired power station to be based in Wales or Nottinghamshire, as well as three new wind farms.