Oct. 11--ScottishPower has successfully tested a small carbon-capture coal-fired power plant that is expected to herald a new era of "clean" energy.

For the past five months, a carbon-capture machine, the size of a large lorry container, has been transforming filthy coal emissions into liquid carbon, which can be transported and buried under the sea.

Early test results have proven that it is far easier -- and crucially cheaper -- than expected to take harmful greenhouse gases out of coal emissions, according to senior company sources. Official results of the trial are expected in a month, but scientists and engineers at the giant coal-fired power plant at Longannet, Fife, are said to be delighted.

It is understood the company is now confident that the results of the tests will put it in pole position to win the Government-organised competition to come up with a large-scale carbon-capture device that can be fixed to coal-fired power stations by 2014.

The Government is making carbon-capture a priority in its battle to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. About one third of electricity in the UK is produced by coal-fired power stations, which are a major source of C02.

The Government is prepared to give £1 billion to the winner of a competition to design a full running carbon-capture plant. Once the winner has designed and built the technology, the Government is hoping it will secure billions of pounds in exports.

Rows at the Department of Energy coupled with factious negotiations with the Treasury mean that the competition between Eon, ScottishPower and RWE is running three years late.

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