§ Sir Hugh Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Energy what new research is being undertaken in the United Kingdom supported by the Government, to develop new low pollution combustion techniques and emission control technologies.
§ Mr. GoodladPrimary responsibility for developing new low pollution combustion techniques and emission control technologies rests with the industries concerned. The CEGB and NCB have substantial research programmes to investigate coal cleaning techniques, fluidised bed combustion and technologies for reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Vehicle manufacturers are also developing lean-burn engines which will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
As part of this overall effort, my Department is financially supporting two joint studies. The first, involving the CEGB and NCB, is a design study of a power station based on a pressurised fluidised bed combustor using both gas and steam turbine generators. The second, which also involves BGC, is investigating a combined cycle using the British Gas-Lurgi slagging gasifier. Both concepts are aimed at reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.