§ Mr. Geoffrey Johnson Smithasked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in the United Kingdom with advanced technology for coal utilisation.
§ Mr. John MooreThe National Coal Board and plant manufacturers are making good progress in the development of fluidised bed combustion for industrial use, and prototype boilers, and furnaces are demonstrating the advantages of the technology. Construction of the Grime-thorpe 80 MW (thermal) experimental 37W pressurised fluidised bed combustion facility funded by the United Kingdom, the United States and West Germany under the auspices of the International Energy Agency is complete, and commissioning has begun.
The British Gas/Lurgi slagging gasi-fier is proved and is being considered for a demonstration plant in the USA. The CEGB and NCB are making a joint study of the application of coal gasification to advanced power generation systems. Design and feasibility studies on pilot plants to develop further oil from coal processes devised within NCB laboratories have been completed, and a decision on construction will be taken shortly.