Government is introducing an Emissions Performance Standard (EPS) that will prevent new coal plant being built unless they have sufficient carbon capture and storage capacity to keep carbon dioxide emissions below 450g/kwH.
In advance of the debate, Labour peer Baroness Bryony Worthington said there is “a real risk” that some 15GW of existing coal plant will keep going and make carbon targets “impossible to meet”.
She is tabling amendments that would see the EPS apply to existing plant that undergo a “significant upgrade”.
Energy secretary ED Davey said the EPS was not the only restriction on coal and the UK’s carbon price floor will disincentivise the continued use of old plant.
He would also be supporting plans to boost the European carbon price by backloading the sale of emissions allowances, he said. “I am not going to give up on carbon markets just yet.”