HC Deb 27 February 1978 vol 945 cc58-61W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the quantity of sulphur released to the atmosphere per annum on the basis of the present consumption of coal by power stations in the United Kingdom and what is his estimate based on power station intake of coal by the year 2000.

Mr. Eadie

It is estimated that in 1976 1.05 million tonnes of sulphur was emitted from coal-fired power stations. On the assumptions used in the reference case put forward in the Consultative Document on Energy Policy, Cmnd. 7101, recently issued by my Department, it may be estimated that sulphur emissions from coal-fired power stations in the United Kingdom would be about 1 million tonnes in the year 2000.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give revised capital costs of flue gas desulphurisation plant for both coal and oil-fired power stations in the United Kingdom and an up-to-date assessment of annual operating costs of the equipment including the disposal of the waste.

Mr. Eadie

I am advised by the Central Electricity Generating Board that the information contained in my previous answer to a similar Question from the hon. Member—[Vol. 936, c.558–9]—is still relevant. An allowance for the cost of the disposal of waste from the flue gas desulphurisation plant is included in the estimate of operating costs.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the quantity of sulphur likely to be emitted within a 50-mile radius of the village of Belvoir following completion and operation of the Belvoir coal project.

Mr. Eadie

Information is not available from which the total emissions of sulphur within the precise area of interest to the hon. Member could be estimated.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he assesses to be the quantity of sulphur emitted on an annual basis from (a) Drax A, and (b) Drax B following commissioning; and whether he intends to ensure that the Central Electricity Generating Board in its design study will incorporate flue gas desulphurisation plant in the new project.

Mr. Eadie

Estimates for sulphur emissions from particular power stations are subject to uncertainties due to difficulties in forecasting overall electricity demand, plant availability, relative marginal fuel prices and average sulphur content of the fuel burnt. I am advised by the CEGB that Drax power station—Drax A—consumed 36 million tonnes of coal in 1976 and emitted about 66,000 tonnes of sulphur. The second part of the station, Drax B, is expected to consume 4¾ million tonnes of coal during the first year of full operation and to emit between 70,000 and 90,000 tonnes of sulphur.

In accordance with the terms of the consent granted under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909, the layout of the Drax Station, as at all other CEGB stations since 1945, must be designed so as to permit the installation of such plant as may be reasonably practicable for the prevention of the discharge of sulphur and its compounds into the atmosphere, if the Secretary of State so directs.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he considers the first commercial coal-fired power station utilising fluidised bed combustion techniques will be operating in the United Kingdom to further the purposes outlined in paragraph 6.17, Command Paper No. 7101.

Mr. Eadie

The development of fluidised bed combustion for large-scale operation is still at an early stage; the United Kingdom is supporting the IEA facility at Grimethorpe as the next step on a long road. Fluidised bed combustion is only one of a number of techniques which reduce some of the environmental effects of coal burning, and even though a significant reduction in the emission of sulphur and nitrogen oxides can be achieved, there may be problems of solid waste disposal. It is not therefore possible to estimate when fluidised bed combustian would be technically ready for application in power stations, nor whether it would be the most effective means of reducing sulphur and nitrogen oxide emission.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the total quantity of sulphur dioxide assessed to enter the atmosphere annually, what is his estimate in percentage terms of contributions by source.

Mr. Eadie

The relative contributions to sulphur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels in the United Kingdom in 1976 by various sources are estimated to be as follows:

per cent.
Power Stations 55.9
Refineries 5.8
Other Industries 26.1
Domestic 5.6
Agriculture 0.6
Commercial/Public Services 4.6
Rail Transport 0.4
Road Transport 1.0

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the 2.5 million tonnes to 3.3 million tonnes of sulphur emitted in the United Kingdom in 1974, what percentage he estimates was derived from (a) coal burning, (b) oil burning and (c) other sources; and what is his assessment of the amount of damage to buildings and injury to health.

Mr. Marks

I have been asked to reply.

The sulphur dioxide emitted from the combustion of fuel in 1974 was split almost equally between coal and oil. Figures are not available for sulphur compounds emitted from other sources but the amounts are thought to be small in comparison with those from fuel combustion.

In general it is not possible to isolate the health effects of a single air pollutant, such as sulphur dioxide, from those of other pollutants normally associated with it. Nevertheless, current concentrations of sulphur dioxide generally fall within limits recommended by an expert committee of the World Health Organisation and I am satisfied that there is no serious risk to health. It is believed that sulphur dioxide can attack buildings but most of the evidence for this links it with other forms of air pollution and it is extremely difficult to identify the amount of damage caused by sulphur dioxide alone.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the Member for Bedford, Official Report. 28th July 1977, column 558, if 100,000 tonnes of sulphur originating in the United Kingdom was thought to be deposited in Norway and Sweden in 1974, what is his estimate of the quantity deposited in the United Kingdom during that year.

Mr. Marks

I have been asked to reply.

Estimates given in the report of the OECD study on the long range transport of air pollution showed that in 1974, of the order of 1,000,000 tonnes of sulphur was deposited in the United Kingdom from all sources.