UK’s coal power stations to be phased out by 2025

The government has announced that all remaining coal-fired power stations are to close by 2025 and restrict their use by 2023.

Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd, will today unveil plans that will see an end to Britain using coal to generate electricity and move towards building a new generation of power plants that burn gas.

Ahead of her speech, Ms Rudd said: “Energy security comes first and I am determined to ensure that the UK has secure, affordable, and clean energy supplies that hardworking families and businesses can rely on now and in the future.

“We are tackling a legacy of underinvestment and ageing power stations which we need to replace with alternatives that are reliable, good value for money, and help to reduce our emissions.

“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.

“Let me be clear: this is not the future. We need to build a new energy infrastructure, fit for the 21st century.

“Our determination to cut carbon emissions as cost effectively as possible is crystal clear and this step will make us one of the first developed countries to commit to taking coal off our system”.

Ms Rudd will use her speech to say that the coal powered plants are becoming increasingly unreliable and will point to the National Grid recently being forced to implement emergency measures.

While gas is more environmentally friendly than coal, the lack of focus on generating power through renewable sources has drawn criticism from environmental groups.

The government will begin consultations early next year to decide when to close all coal-fired power stations. Proposals will be set out to close “unabated” coal-fired power stations by 2025 and restrict their use from 2023.

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