Posted on 11/19/2015 5:08:30 AM PST by thackney
In a major speech setting out the future direction of the UK's energy policy, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd announced plans to restrict the use of the country's coal-fired power stations by 2023 and close all of the facilities by 2025.
"Frankly, it cannot be satisfactory for an advanced economy like the UK to be relying on polluting, carbon intensive 50-year-old coal-fired power stations," Rudd said while speaking in London before the Institution of Civil Engineers. "We need to build a new energy infrastructure, fit for the 21st century."
Rudd said that even with huge growth in its renewable energy sector, the UK has still not reduced its dependence on coal. She noted that 30% of the UK's electricity still comes from unabated (without carbon-capture technology) coal. In fact, she said a higher proportion of electricity came from coal in 2014 than it did in 1999.
"One of the greatest and most cost-effective contributions we can make to emission reductions in electricity is by replacing coal-fired power stations with gas," Rudd said. "In the next 10 years, it's imperative that we get new gas-fired power stations built."
The UK currently imports about half of its gas needs, but some estimates suggest that imports could increase to 75% by 2030. Rudd's plan, however, is to encourage investment in shale gas exploration in the UK so that new sources of "home-grown supply" are added in the future.
But gas is not the only energy resource that the policy relies upon; nuclear power is also expected to be a major contributor to the UK's future electricity supply.
"We are dealing with a legacy of under-investment [in nuclear power] and with Hinkley Point C planning to start generating in the mid-2020s that is already changing," Rudd said.
However, Rudd noted that building just one plant isn't enough.
"There are plans for a new fleet of nuclear power stations, including at Wylfa and Moorside," she said. "This could provide up to 30% of the low carbon electricity which we're likely to need through the 2030s."
Offshore wind energy was also addressed. If current projections hold true, the UK will have about 10 GW of offshore wind generation installed by 2020. While costs for offshore wind energy have come down by at least 20% in the last two years, Rudd said it is still too expensive.
Over 1/3 of UK electricity is generated by coal.
,,,,,, yea right !!!! ,,,, it’ll be a cold day in London when that happens .
Are there any active coal mines in the UK ?
Only if gas-fuelled power can fill the void created by closing coal-powered stations would coal plants be shut { Energy Secretary Amber Rudd }
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34851718
She believes that plans for new nuclear power stations, including those at Wylfa in Wales, Moorside in Cumbria and Hinkley Point in Somerset, could eventually provide almost a third of the low carbon electricity the UK needs.
The UK produces about 1/4 of their coal consumption from domestic supply.
http://www.iea.org/statistics/statisticssearch/report/?year=2013&country=UK&product=Coal
Personally I’m wondering if they are planning on reducing their population by reducing the electricity available to that same population.
“Science” has devolved into grant-funded “Science Fiction”
UK will be freezing to death before that goal is reached. This insane rush to make energy more expensive, less reliable, and less available is almost worse than western governments’ embrace of islam. It will get us all dead.
If that’s their plan, best start now building those nuke plants or they’ll be on reliant on others for most their energy needs.
And we are doing a darn thing in this arena.
Tell me otherwise if I am off base here Thackney....
The plants are probably fully depreciated and producing cheap electricity. Any difference in carbon emissions is going to be a rounding error compared to the Chinese emissions. sounds like an economically stupid plan.
Natural Gas first will grow, nukes may come later.
As I recall last winter the UK came within an eyelash of running out of natural gas.
Bit of Lefty sentiment in this one, but I always thought this was one of Sting’s better songs.
We Work the Black Seam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSpE0CF9AEE
In 2026, GB will be Dickensonian in their winter...freezing their arses to death. On the plus side, many will be moozlum invaders.
Oh My how things change!
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