Cleaner Fossil Fuels Technology covers a range of technologies which deal with the emissions generated by fossil fuel power generation. The emphasis is currently on reducing emissions from coal-fired power generation, as coal produces more unwanted emissions than the other major fossil fuel - natural gas, and therefore the focus is very much on Cleaner Coal Technologies (CCT). The three major pollutants from coal firing are Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrous Oxide (NOx), both of which cause acid rain, and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) which is a greenhouse gas. If coal is to continue to have a role in power generation then these emissions will have to be significantly reduced or eliminated.

The DTI's policy is to encourage the use of CCTs, not only in the UK but also abroad, through its CCT Programme covering R&D, Technology Transfer and Export promotion. Energy Paper 67 provided the foundation for this Programme which has been running since 1999. More information on this programme, including a wealth of publications on a wide range of technology topics, is provided on the Cleaner Coal Technology Programme web pages.

More recently the Government assessed the case for it supporting the development of a CCT Demonstration Plant. The conclusions and supporting documentation for this review can be found on this page.

Technologies already exist, and are widely deployed worldwide, for managing SO2 and NOx emissions and although those for controlling CO2 are understood they still have yet to be used. Today much of the R&D into CCT in the UK is focused on the reduction of CO2 through improved boiler efficiency. Currently studies being conducted by the DTI are examining the issues surrounding CO2 capture from coal-fired power generation and its sequestration away of the Earth's atmosphere. The papers covering the work of this study can be found on this page.