Rugeley coal-fired plant to close

• 8 years ago (2016-02-09)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 640

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Engie , which was formerly known as GDF Suez, owns 75 per cent of the 1 GW Rugeley plant. Engie said that low commodity prices and tighter environmental legislation have forced it to close the plant early, and that market conditions for coal plants in the UK have deteriorated rapidly in recent years as falling power prices and a crash in commodity prices have been compounded by higher carbon costs. The UK Government also signalled last year that it expects all unabated coal plants in the UK to close by 2025 at the latest, as part of its decarbonisation strategy.

This latest closure is likely to renew fears of a looming electricity supply crisis in the UK, as concern mounts that new supply will not come online early enough to make up for the loss of coal and nuclear plants.