The ‘Engineering the UK Electricity Gap’ report says plans to plug the gap by building Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plants are unrealistic, as the UK would need to build about 30 CCGT plants in less than 10 years. The UK has built four CCGTs in the last 10 years, closed one as well as eight other power stations.In addition, 20 nuclear sites were listed for decommissioning in 2005, leaving a significant gap to be filled.
The report states that the country has neither the resources nor enough people with the right skills to build this many power stations in time. It is already too late for any other nuclear reactors to be planned and built by the coal ‘shut-off’ target of 2025, other than Hinkley Point C.
The report also highlights that a greater reliance on interconnectors to import electricity from Europe and Scandinavia is likely to lead to higher electricity costs and less energy security.
“The UK is facing an electricity supply crisis. As the UK population rises and with the greater use of electricity in transport and heating it looks almost certain that electricity demand is going to rise,” said Dr Jenifer Baxter, head of energy and environment at the IMechE, and lead author of the report. “Electricity imports will put the UK’s electricity supply at the mercy of the markets, weather and politics of other countries, making electricity less secure and less affordable.”
In the report it is suggested that the UK Infrastructure Commission should provide incentives for industry and the public to reduce the demand on the electricity system through engineering efficiencies into processes and equipment, awareness raising and advocacy. Also, investment should be made in research and development activities for renewables, energy storage, combined heat and power and innovation in power station design and build.
