Section 5: Reports on decarbonisation and CCS progress
30.This section requires the Government to produce reports every 3 years (starting in 2012) on progress towards decarbonisation of (i.e. reducing the amounts of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from) electricity generation. The report will need to include specific coverage of the progress made in reducing emissions from coal-fired power generation and progress in the development and use of CCS technologies (subsection (1)).
31.The report will also need to include an assessment of whether CCS technology has been successfully demonstrated (or, if not, when it will be demonstrated) in terms of capturing and storing the carbon emissions from commercial-scale electricity generation and whether coal-fired power stations given planning consent from 1st January 2020 can be expected to have CCS technology fitted to their full generating capacity (subsection (2)).
32.The final required element of the report is a review of whether, in the light of its other findings, Government policies should be revised (subsection (3)).
33.When preparing the report, the Secretary of State will need to consult Scottish and Welsh Ministers, and the report will need to take into account any relevant points raised by the Climate Change Committee in their regular reports on progress towards the Government’s carbon reduction targets made under the Climate Change Act 2008 (subsection (4)).
34.Subsection (5) and the definitions of “reporting period” in subsection (6) mean that the first report will need to be produced in 2012 and cover the period between the Act coming into force and the end of 2011. The second report will be published in 2015 and cover the 3 year period between 2012 and 2014. Subsequent reports will be published at 3-yearly intervals thereafter.
