Coal ain’t dead yet

While there might be a rising sun over new nuclear, the short-term future looks more likely to need the extended services of some of old warhorses to keep the lights on. Should Hitachi and EDF achieve their ambitions to build new nuclear in the UK, their plant will almost certainly not be available in time to plug the hole in the UK's generating capacity left by the expected retirement of ageing coal and nuclear power stations in 2016.

If gas is not to be left to fill the generation gap, there are voices already urging the government to extend the lifetimes of coal-fired plant beyond their scheduled 2016 closure under European Large Combustion Plant Directive. Some argue that biomass co-firing could come to the rescue (see page 5), but if not there is the potential spectacle of the UK defying the Commission, which could leave the country open to infraction proceedings and, ultimately, fines of £300 million a year. However, the UK has been on the receiving end of 78 infraction proceedings over the past decade – and has never been fined.

Faced with a choice between the political cost of power cuts and higher energy bills, and the potential financial cost of defying the EU, might this government not opt to break the law?

Trevor Loveday

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 9th November 2012.

Get Utility Week’s expert news and comment – unique and indispensible – direct to your desk. Sign up for a trial subscription here: http://bit.ly/zzxQxx