H.-J. Feuerborn, European Coal Combustion Products Association, Essen, Germany
Coal is a major fuel for energy and steam production in European coal-fired power plants. Political decision regarding clean coal technology led to modifications in power plant technology and installations of de-NOx and de-SOx system, those regarding subsidization of national coal mining to increased use of imported coal, those to reduce CO2 emissions to increased use of biomass and production by renewable systems (wind-, solar-, hydropower). The later one does not only effects power producers but also producers of energy intensive production processes, e.g. cement industry, glass industry. After the nuclear accident in Fukushima in April 2011 the future of nuclear power in national energy plans was again discussed and led to different political decisions in the member states, e.g. the stop of nuclear power in Germany.
