HC Deb 04 March 1981 vol 1000 c138W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, at a suitable time, he will consider the introduction of legislation to curtail sulphur dioxide and nitrogen emissions from coal-fired boilers in order to encourage the use and development of fluidised bed boiler plants.

Mr. John Moore

The introduction of legislation to control the emission of sulphur and nitrogen oxides from combustion processes is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if any estimate has been made of the quantity of coal which would be consumed through the extensive use of fluidised bed combustion boilers of the 50,000 pp hour of steam/hot water to 80,000 pph range.

Mr. John Moore

My Department's information on the number of boilers in this capacity range and their average load factor is not yet sufficiently detailed to permit estimates to be made with any confidence. However, a boiler in this size range operating at a high load factor would burn between 20,000 to 25,000 tons of coal per year.