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Lights to go out by 2025

The UK Government’s policy to close all coal-fired power stations by 2025, combined with the retirement of the majority of the UK’s ageing nuclear fleet and growing electricity demand, are creating an energy crisis that will leave the country facing a 40-55% electricity supply gap, according to a new report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The report, Engineering the UK Electricity Gap, says plans to plug the gap by building Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plants are unrealistic, as the UK would need to build around 30 new CCGT plants in less than 10 years. The UK has built just four CCGTs in the last 10 years and closed one as well as shut down eight other power stations.  In addition, 20 nuclear sites were listed for decommissioning in 2005, leaving a significant gap to be filled.

Dr Jenifer Baxter, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and lead author of the report said: “The UK is facing an electricity supply crisis. As the UK population rises and with the greater use of electricity use in transport and heating it looks almost certain that electricity demand is going to rise.

However with little or no focus on reducing electricity demand, the retirement of the majority of the country’s ageing nuclear fleet, recent proposals to phase out coal-fired power by 2025 and the cut in renewable energy subsidies, the UK is on course to produce even less electricity than it does at the moment.

“We cannot rely on CCGTs alone to plug this gap, as we have neither the time, resources nor enough people with the right skills to build sufficient power plants. Electricity imports will put the UK’s electricity supply at the mercy of the markets, weather and politics of other countries, making electricity less secure and less affordable.

“Currently there are insufficient incentives for companies to invest in any sort of electricity infrastructure or innovation and worryingly even the Government’s own energy calculator does not allow for the scenarios that new energy policy points towards. Under current policy, it is almost impossible for UK electricity demand to be met by 2025.

“Government needs to take urgent action to work with industry to create a clear pathway with timeframes and milestones for new electricity infrastructure to be built including fossil fuel plants, nuclear power, energy storage and combined heat and power. With CCS now out of the picture, new low carbon innovations must be supported over the course of the next 10 years.

 “We need to ensure we have the right skills and knowledge in place to enable this key infrastructure to be built. The UK Infrastructure Commission must also take urgent action to prioritise greater energy efficiency by industry and clarify financial incentives for research and development of renewables, energy storage and combined heat and power.”

 

 

Comments

With the uncertainty of Hinkley coming online the Uk must also look at predictable energy technology which can stabilise the grid. I also agree that we have to invest in storage technology and the skills surrounding it so that we can utilise unpredictable energy such as Wind and Solar more efficiently. Its all part of creating a sustainable energy mix that has to be given top priority to ensure our children, of which I have 5, can turn on their lights when they grow older.