§ Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much coal fired generation capacity she estimates will be taken out of the system by(a) 2008 and (b) 2015. [107981]
§ Mr. WilsonThe amount of coal fired generation capacity taken out of the system in future will depend on a range of factors, including energy prices and economic conditions generally, together with any impacts from environmental legislation.
In the CH case contained within the most recent official energy projections, published in November 2000 as Energy Paper 68, it was projected that around 14GW of coal plant, including some with dual firing capacity, would close between 2000 and 2010, with little further change by 2015. Since the publication of EP68, coal's competitive position has improved somewhat, leading to relatively high generation from coal plants, in excess of the levels anticipated in Energy Paper 68. My officials are currently beginning the process of formally reviewing the projections and it is expected that the 488W results will feed into other work, including preparations for carbon trading and the review of the UK Climate Change Programme, due in 2004.