British power plants among dirtiest in Europe

LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) Britain is home to a third of Europe's dirtiest power stations, according to a report by environmental charity WWF.

It found that 10 of Europe's 30 most climate-polluting power stations were in the UK and the combined carbon dioxide emissions from these 10 rose almost 8 per cent last year.

The ''dirty thirty'' -- all of which are coal-fired -- were responsible for 393 million tonnes of CO2 last year, equal to some 10 per cent of all EU carbon dioxide emissions.

Germany also has 10 of Europe's most polluting power stations, followed by Poland with four.

The largest polluter in Britain was the Drax power station in North Yorkshire, operated by Drax Power.

It is twice the size of any other British power station and released some 22.76 million tonnes of CO2 in 2006, up 9.6 percent on the previous year.

Second and third places went to Scottish Power's Longannet station in Fife and EDF Energy's Cottam station in Nottinghamshire.

They emitted more than 10 million tonnes of CO2 each in 2006 -- 10.13 million and 10.03 million respectively -- and also clocked up the largest increases in emissions.

Longannet emitted 20.3 per cent more CO2 in 2006 than 2005, while Cottam saw the largest annual rise at 24.3 per cent.

Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF UK, said: ''The UK's welcome attempts to show international leadership on climate change are being undermined by the dismal failure to cut our own emissions, or to reverse our increasing reliance on coal -- the most polluting energy source of all.

''The 'dash for gas' in the 90s helped drive down carbon emissions almost by accident but the power sector is now on a 'roll to coal' with profound environmental implications.

''If the government wants to maintain international credibility on climate change, it must dramatically increase and diversify renewable energy, curb energy demand and provide the power sector with incentives or legislation to reduce coal burn.

''No new coal-fired power stations should be accepted without an unambiguous commitment to fit carbon capture equipment,'' said Allott.

More than half of the 30 plants are run by just four companies: Germany's RWE; EON, also of Germany; Sweden-based Vattenfall; and France's EDF.

Reuters GT RS0938