By Stewart Ross

THE MASSIVE contribution of King Coal to industrial life of Fife is back in the spotlight after comments by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks, which follow an £170 million investment at coal-fired Longannet Power Station.

Coal powered more than half of the nation’s peak electricity demand this winter, he said, and will form “an important part” of the energy review.

At the Coal UK conference in London, Mr Wicks said, “This winter has demonstrated the value of coal.

“Against expectations, and as the price of gas spiralled, coal has been meeting 50% of average weekday demand, stepping in to keep electricity flowing to our homes, factories and offices.

“Normally, coal would average only 40% of supply at this time of year. This flexibility, built on the diversity of our energy sources, is an important strength of our energy market.”

He warned, however, that cleaner generation of power using coal was “essential” if it is to survive the shift to sustainable forms of energy.

“I am encouraged that more than two-thirds of the UK’s coal-fired power stations have signed up to meet tough new limits on sulphur and nitrogen emissions.

“Nevertheless, projections in the energy review show that by 2020 coal may only account for 16% of our electricity,” he said.

“The biggest barrier to coal’s future is carbon dioxide and its contribution to climate change.

“It is this which is driving the development of carbon abatement technologies the world over. Carbon capture and storage, for example, has the potential to eliminate up to 95% of CO2 emissions, cleaning up the environmental impact of traditional fossil fuels such as coal.

“We still have substantial coal reserves and there are arguments for maintaining production from them, both open cast and deep mine, provided that they can be made economically viable.

“The mining sector continues to make a significant contribution to the nation in terms of employment, often in areas of relative deprivation, and it maintains important specialist mining and engineering skills, which are of international value.”

Fife MSP Christine May has long championed coal and has followed the issue with interest.

“I know it has been said that coal has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, and I have been predicting its resurrection for many years,” she said.

“However, this time, I believe that global energy conditions and technological advances are coming together for coal.

“I welcome the recent announcement from ScottishPower that they are to invest £170 million in reducing flue gas emissions from Longannet. This means the station will continue to deliver power for many years.

“The investment means that sulphur dioxide gas emissions will be reduced and more Scottish coal will be needed.

“That is good news for Fife, good news for the Scottish coal industry and good news for the environment.”

Mrs May was one of the guests at the recent meeting of the UK Coal producers in Edinburgh, where the guest speaker was Alan Bryce, of ScottishPower.

Mr Bryce said the Scottish- Power decision to invest at Longannet was made because of world energy conditions, and the need to secure supplies of electricity well into the next decade.

He also indicated they intended that around half of the coal needed would come from the UK and that it was hoped much would be from Scotland.

ScottishPower’s decision to invest in the new technology means that electricity demand can be met, and coal output maintained, until new technologies which drastically reduce CO2 emissions become commercially viable.

“It’s important that technologies such as carbon capture and clean coal are developed as a priority so they can be used when the new coal-fired power stations are required,” he said.

He said the UK should look to give an example to the world through having a balanced mix of electricity generation, with coal as a key part of the mix.

“The development of clean coal and carbon capture technologies should be given significant levels of UK and European support as they would take several billion pounds of investment, and a number of years, to become commercially viable.”

He warned of the risks of denying support to coal in favour of other forms of energy generation.

Mrs May concluded, “Energy is very important to the economy of central Fife.

“John MacDougall MP and I have been working hard to promote the green energy potential of the area, from the energy park at Methil, the many skilled engineering companies in Fife, to the proposals for Westfield.”