The world’s first large scale Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle, near-zero emissions power station is to built on the site of Hatfield Colliery near Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Construction of the 900 megawatt facility by UK company Powerfuel will be in two phases. Phase I will involve building an 800MW combined cycle gas turbine facility, while phase II will convert this into a 900MW near-zero emissions power station.

The gasification technology which will be used in Phase II is licensed from Shell and will capture approximately 90% of potential carbon emissions from coal. The by-products from the plant will also be recycled- for example, sulphur will be sent to a sulphur recovery plant. It is estimated that the plant will save around 5m tonnes of carbon emissions.

The plant is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2012, by which time a grid connection for the export of electricity will also be available.

The UK’s Minister for Energy and Climate Change Mike O’Brien said: “It is essential to replace older power stations that are reaching the end of their lives with new stations that operate more efficiently. I welcome this investment from Powerfuel which will see enough energy generated for about one million homes.”