Part of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station could remain active for longer than planned as the Government looks to secure energy supplies this winter. The coal-fired Nottinghamshire plant is set to close at the end of September 2024 and as part of this, one of its units was due to be decommissioned this September.
But the Government says Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has caused uncertainty across Europe as the Russian leader restricts gas supplies. Despite its plan to end the use of coal power in Great Britain by October 2024, which it says it is still committed to, the Government says looking at how to bolster energy supplies is necessary.
As part of this, discussions have been taking place with operators of Great Britain's three remaining coal-fired power stations. An agreement has already been struck with EDF Energy, the operators of the West Burton A Power Station near Retford, to keep two of the units there available this winter after they were originally set to close this year.
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The Drax power station in North Yorkshire was also due to close in September, but an agreement has also been reached with its operators to keep its generators active this winter. Operators of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station have now confirmed that they are in discussions about pausing its decommissioning.
Discussions started in May when Kwasi Kwarteng, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, asked the National Grid's electricity system operator (ESO) to explore the idea of keeping Great Britain's three coal power stations open. At the time of the announcement, Mr Kwarteng said: "If we have available back-up power, let's keep it online just in case.
"I'm not taking chances. For our long-term energy security, we're accelerating renewables and nuclear - while maximising North Sea oil and gas production."
A spokesperson for Uniper, the German-based energy company which operates Ratcliffe-on-Soar, said: "Uniper is continuing discussions with National Grid ESO in line with the Government's request to keep our unit at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, which is due to close in September 2022, available if needed during the winter. We cannot comment further at this time."
The remaining three units at the power station are due to be closed by the September 2024 deadline and following this, plans have already been unveiled for the future of the site. Battery production, energy storage and a new waste incinerator are all planned on the power station site, whilst wider plans for a hotel alongside food and retail outlets have also been unveiled.
A government spokesperson said: "While there is no shortage of supply for both the immediate and long term, we may need to keep other remaining coal-fired power stations available to provide additional back-up electricity this coming winter if needed, in light of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. However, it remains our firm commitment to end the use of coal power by October 2024."
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