This is madness; we keep talking about expensive technologies to clean coal and to capture CO2, when the technology to clean the post combustion gases that contain the pollutants and greenhouse gases exists today at about a third of the cost of what most power stations are currently using. This technology will eliminate the bulk of the pollutants from flue gases, including SOX, NOx, particulates, VOCs and heavy metals such as mercury. The technology also converts up to 80% of the CO2 into stable bicarbonates (such as baking soda), thus eliminating the need to capture the CO2 as a liquid gas and then having to store it underground so that it does not revert back to a gas in the atmosphere.

Martin Brau, WOW Energies, Houston, Texas, USA

It seems these days that private industry can not survive with out tax payers money. If they want our money it should on the basis of a loan which is paid back in a resonable time period. It makes me mad that some of these grants will go to the profits of a foriegn company. I do agree that the cost of the R.O.C are too cheap and hopefully if they were dearer then other renewables such as marine energy would be developed

martin, cambridge,

I think the UK desprately needs to look into renewable energy options. As doing a geography degree at Reading University for my course i was asked to read Jeremy Leggett's, Half gone, oil, gas, hot air and the global energy crisis. I believe that more people should read this book. Although being bias which you have to look past it wakes you up to the looming prospect that we are potentially heading for diaster. I think people should seriously read this book and make up there own minds on the situation we are heading into.

Sarah Harris, Reading,

Since currently 50% of electricity is lost in its distribution (which makes Thames Water's water losses look small in comparison) would it not be sensible to pursue a policy of building more smaller power stations located closer to centres of consumption rather than ever bigger power stations sited miles away from where the electricity is needed ?

Richard Temple, Sundridge, Kent

Who are 'the UK Power industry' stated in the article? I'd like to see a follow-up piece that speaks to them about the relative cost of £300 million worth of inhouse investment compared to their combined profits for last year. I expect it would be a drop in the (polluted) ocean.

Steve, Winchester,

In answer to some of the comments made, "clean coal" needs subsidising because the capital investment is so much higher than for an equivalent gas station. In effect what we are being asked to pay for is the security of supply coal buys us against the volatility of gas security.

Jim, Oxford,

So these large corporations, making billions of pounds/euros profit every year, are expecting the UK tax-payer to foot the bill so that they can do their little bit for the environment? This comes just a few days after the CBI were expecting the government to cut public spending to pay for business tax cuts! Yes that seems fair....!

Rod Munch, Northampton, UK

So these large corporations, making billions of pounds/euros profit every year, are expecting the UK tax-payer to foot the bill so that they can do their little bit for the environment? This comes just a few days after the CBI were expecting the government to cut public spending to pay for business tax cuts! Yes that seems fair....!

Rod Munch, Northampton, UK

"Clean coal" is only clean where it's used. The energy for the cleaning process requires 40ton of coal from every 100ton delivered. The dirty byproducts are left in the dveloping world, where less stringent regulations control pollutants.

Does it solve the problem or just commute the effects?

John , Nottingham, Swift

I think it would be a big mistake for the government to either try to micro manage the private generator emissions or provide free subsidy because it will be outwitted by greed either way. We need a simple fossil carbon tax, a big one.

Malcolm, Wirral, UK

i think it sounds like a great idea to be honest, however they are going to have to come up with solutions for car emissions, cigarette fume etc. to also protect the planet from global warming

matthew willis, milton keynes, england

Why subsidies ? A level-playing-field can also be achieved with good regulations that cost no taxpayers money and allocate the costs with (future) energy users.

Paul Metz , Velp, Netherlands