UK and Germany have Europe's dirtiest power stations, WWF reports

 

May 11, 2007 -- Datamonitor

 

In a new report outlining Europe's 30 most climate-polluting power stations, environmental group WWF has revealed that the least environmentally sound facilities are in the UK and Germany, which each account for 10 of the worst plants.

Poland followed behind the UK and Germany, accounting for four of Europe's least efficient power stations in the WWF's 'Dirty Thirty' report. Greek power stations Agios Dimitrios and Kardia are top of WWF's list, followed closely by RWE's Niederaussem facility in Germany.

In its report, the WWF revealed that, in 2006, the 'dirty thirty' were responsible for 393 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), which the group said is equal to 10% of all EU carbon emissions.

The WWF said that Europe's dirtiest power stations are all coal-fired, with the worst 10 running on particularly CO2-intense lignite. The group commented that, as CO2 emissions are considered the main cause for global warming, a stronger EU emissions trading scheme needs to be put in place to encourage investment in cleaner and more efficient plants.

"The power sector needs to phase out dirty coal as soon as possible," said Stephan Singer, head of the WWF's European climate and energy unit. "This must be done through an improved EU emissions trading system, helping the EU achieve its target of up to 30% reduction in emissions by 2020."

The group also revealed that just four companies account for most of Europe's dirtiest power stations. More than half of the 30 plants analyzed are run by German utility RWE, Sweden's Vattenfall, French company EDF and Germany utility E.ON. RWE and Vattenfall were also revealed to be the EU's largest corporate climate polluters.

"We cannot tolerate a power sector where the dirtier get richer," Mr Singer concluded. "The EU must ensure that only those who clean up their power stations reap monetary rewards."

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