THREE years ago the UK’s installed electricity generating capacity was 17% above peak demand; however, because several coal-fired power stations have since been decommissioned and three nuclear plants have suffered unplanned shutdowns, deemed necessary so safety checks can be carried out, the National Grid announced on October 28 that we are now down to 4% reserve capacity – and in future winters we may be skating on even thinner ice.
At first glance, your report (October 29) that the proposed South Hook Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generating station has been given consent by DECC seems excellent and timely news: the developers propose a 500 Megawatt fossil fuel-fired installation which will make use of its generating unit’s reject heat rather than dumping it either into the atmosphere or into the sea… Well, that’s what will happen if South Hook CHP is ever built – because the South Hook shareholders have yet to decide if they will proceed with the project.
Just a few weeks ago I was wrote to this newspaper bemoaning the fact that our government won’t give us a joined-up energy policy; if CHP projects like South Hook don’t proceed despite the pressing need for more high-efficiency fossil fuel capacity to complement our enlarging renewable generating capability, then in terms of its electricity system Britain could well be on course for what the Chinese call “interesting times”.
CHRISTOPHER JESSOP
Independent Energy Consultant
Marloes
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