The UK’s Energy Security Secretary, Claire Coutinho, has highlighted the urgent need for the country to construct new gas-fired power stations, as many existing plants will soon need to be retired. However, the CO2 produced by these new stations will not be captured, leading to concerns that this will threaten the country’s legally binding commitment to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. Critics of the plan argue that it is incompatible with reaching the goal of zero-carbon electricity by 2035, which was set by the government in its Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution in November 2020.
The UK government has stated that new gas power stations are essential for providing a safe and reliable backup for periods when renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, are not able to generate sufficient energy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that he would not “gamble with our energy security.” However, the Green Alliance think tank criticised the decision, saying it “flies in the face” of the government’s emissions reduction targets.
Shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband accused the Conservatives of “specialising in failure” when it comes to the UK’s clean energy future, calling for investment in renewable energy solutions. Liberal Democrat energy and climate change spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP also criticised the decision, calling it “another step backwards on the critical road to net zero.” Instead, she urged investment in “cheap, clean renewable power and insulating every home” to reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels.
While the government has not provided details about where or when these new power stations will be built, the plan is for them to be capable of operating efficiently for short periods of time to fill the gaps left by intermittent renewable energy sources. Private investors are expected to finance the construction of the new power stations, which the government plans to ensure can be retrofitted with carbon capture and storage technologies or modified to burn hydrogen in the future. The government has stated that these plans are in line with the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee, which has said that a small amount of gas generation without carbon capture is compatible with a decarbonised power system
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