Our RD&D programme is assessing future low carbon options often in dynamic collaborations with Government, the EU, scientific organisations and universities.

The strategic programme supports our long term investment decisions, and ensures we are an informed operator of plant in the future.

The key areas of investment are:

Cleaner fossil fuel technologies that reduce CO2 output while maintaining the advantages of large-scale coal and gas-fired generation. We are assessing:

• Pre-combustion carbon capture techniques such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology
• Post-combustion capture techniques to remove carbon from flue gases 
• Oxyfuel firing to cut the cost and complexity of carbon capture
• Advanced supercritical power plant that produce less CO2.

Demand-side initiatives for homes, factories and offices, where there is scope to improve the use and control of energy and patterns of consumption. We are seeking to help customers manage their energy needs better through:

• Micro-generation ranging from microCHP units to domestic wind turbines and heat pumps that extract the Earth's own warmth
• Energy efficiency measures, low energy products and low carbon buildings.

Enabling technologies are the steps that facilitate the use of low carbon energy, from production to consumption. Examples are: 

• Supply and use of low carbon fuels including energy crops and hydrogen 
• Energy storage, networks adapted for embedded generation, and Smart metering.

Renewable energy projects that maximise the role of natural resources; wind power, biomass, marine, hydro, solar and geothermal projects include:

• Biomass fuels in small-scale heat and power projects
• Prediction of marine energy yields

Key areas of E.ON UK's low carbon research are explained in our podcasts, from power stations of the future, to initiatives to reduce energy use in the home. Please see the link above.