The Conservatives have pledged to support greener coal through development of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
David Cameron issued his support for the technique as he outlined his party's green charter.
In a speech to environmental leaders, Mr Cameron said CCS could help to "transform the way we generate energy".
CCS captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from emissions and injects it into rock layers for storage and is seen as a potential way of allowing new coal-fired power plants to be built while protecting the environment from the effects of CO2.
The Conservative leader said his party will set up a panel of experts to advise on how "to move matters forward" regarding CCS and make Britain "global pioneers in both pre- and post-combustion technologies".
Mr Cameron announced that he would support an emissions performance standard that would mean the carbon emissions rate of all electricity generated in our country cannot be any higher than that generated in a modern gas plant.
He also pledged to encourage business, industry and innovators to develop green products and services such as hydrogen fuel cell and battery powered cars.
And he claimed that a Conservative government would increase domestic renewable energy and install smart meters in every home to improve energy efficiency.
Environmental group WWF welcomed Mr Cameron's speech, describing it as a "big step forward for the climate".
Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, said: "A greenhouse gas emissions standard set at the right level will avoid the risk of locking the UK into a high-carbon future, and offers much greater certainty to investors than vague hints that carbon capture might be required at some point in the future.
"The standard would support and strengthen the framework of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme and help to ensure that the UK can move quickly towards a clean and secure energy future."
He added: "Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats now accept that new coal-fired power stations without carbon capture and storage have no place in the UK, if we are to fulfil our role as a global leader in the fight against climate change."
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Are we moving from "clean" coal to "green" coal? - Denny
