Published: Friday, 5th February, 2010 12:48pm

"Coal station will never be built"

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Local MSP Kenneth Gibson has insisted that a clean coal power station will "never be built" at Hunterston - and has slammed another delay to the project.

Ayrshire Power Ltd have "temporarily delayed" their planning application for the 1,600 megawatt station at Hunterston after putting forward revised proposals, a move they say was forced by recent government policy changes.

The crucial change is government insistence that a new coal plant would have to have carbon capture storage on a minimum of 300MW of capacity on its first day of operation, with new builds having full CCS from 2020.

SNP MSP for Cunninghame North, Mr Gibson has hit out at the firm's actions, pointing out his belief that "these policy changes have been in place for months".

Furthermore, he insists that Ayrshire Power are still in desperate need of a new financial partner, and now believes that the project is untenable.

Back in October, green campaigners expressed their delight after the firm announced that Danish partner DONG Energy would be pulling out "due to the financial situation", but would continue to offer "design services".

Owen Michaelson, chairman of Peel Energy, stated that Ayrshire Power's overall strategy for the project would be "unaffected" by the withdrawal.

However Mr Gibson has now received a letter from Ayrshire Power Project Director Muir Miller informing him that the firm would be changing their proposals once more to include a carbon capture storage building and associated gas compression plant within the site.

The letter stated: "In view of these policy changes the Ayrshire Power Station application has been temporarily delayed to allow Ayrshire Power to consider and understand the implications of these changes.

"The development was submitted to the Scottish Government on 19th December 2008. The development referred to a 'clean coal fired power station that would be carbon capture ready.'

Ayrshire Power will now seek further comment from interested parties.

However, Mr Gibson said: "Both the SNP Government in Holyrood and the UK Labour Government have made it clear that any proposed coal-fired power station must have a minimum of 300 MW of capacity from their first day of operation.

"In addition, the SNP Government insist on developers giving serious consideration to how waste heat from such a facility could be utilised by nearby homes or industry.

"These policy changes have been in place for months, however it is only now that Ayrshire Power Ltd (APL) have indicated that their planning application will be delayed still further.

"Although not mentioned in correspondence received, APL need a financial partner to replace Danish Oil and Natural Gas, who previously agreed to fund half of this venture but withdrew last autumn.

"Given the cost of mitigation in terms of the local environment, lack of taxpayer support and the diminishing need for such a plant in view of additional supply being provided by Longannet, Cockenzie and a plethora of renewable technologies, I remain convinced that a Hunterston coal-fired power station, even if submitted for planning consent, will never be built."