The United Kingdom announces its intention to maintain its coal-fired power plants. Indeed, the UK government has asked National Grid to explore the possibility of emergency contracts for coal-fired power plants for the winter of 2023/24. The move comes as plant operators such as EDF and Drax have indicated that their plants will close before October 2024, when Britain plans to shut down its coal-fired power stations to reduce emissions in line with climate targets.
Coal-fired power plants maintained to meet UK needs
This winter, coal-fired power plants were used only once forbackup power, when a cold snap swept the country in early March. National Grid said plant operators have been kept available for winter 2022/23 contingency plans against a backdrop of record gasoline prices and fears of supply problems.
For the upcoming winter, National Grid plans to keep some coal-fired power plants available for backup power to ensure an adequate supply of electricity. The maintenance of these plants is a safety measure to avoid power outages in case of extreme weather conditions or other disruptions on the grid.
Coal-fired power plant closures still planned in the United Kingdom
EDF has already announced the closure of its two remaining coal-fired units at the West Burton A plant, scheduled for March 31, 2023. “There are a number of labor and operational reasons that mean it is again very difficult to extend the life of West Burton A,” he said in a statement. According to EDF, maintaining these plants for emergency power would require qualified and local personnel, which is becoming increasingly difficult to find, as a large part of the workforce has already stayed on well beyond the planned retirement dates.
Emergency contracts to keep coal-fired power plants in sight for winter 2023/24
In sum, despite the UK government’s goals of closing coal-fired power plants by October 2024, National Grid plans to keep some plants available for backup power to avoid blackouts. The government has asked the electricity system operator to explore possible emergency contracts for coal-fired plants for the winter of 2023/24. This is a safety measure in case of extreme weather conditions or grid disruptions, but it raises questions about the sustainability of coal-fired power plants and their environmental impact.
