Another would give him the power to divert coal to an electric power plant.

The long-term CO2 increase is unquestionably due to human activities, mainly through burning coal, oil and gas, and cutting down forests.

Roads and rail lines were blocked across the UK, and day-time blackouts were introduced with coal running low.

Developers say the two huge neighbouring battery farms - one at the site of a former opencast coal mine - will store enough electricity to power three million homes.

Rescuers in India are racing against time to bring out miners trapped inside a flooded coal mine in the north-eastern state of Assam.