Uskmouth gas power station approval casts doubt over Labour's energy efficiency claims

Today's approval for an 800 MW gas-fired power station near Newport in south Wales is an example of Labour's inadequate response to issues of energy security and climate protection, according to Friends of the Earth.

The new power station, which would generate the equivalent of nearly 30% of Wales's electricity consumption (2), will waste one third of the gas it uses.

The scheme contradicts Government Ministers' own calls for the UK to reduce both carbon dioxide emissions and future gas imports from unstable regions. The power station will only be about 57% efficient in its use of gas. This compares to 85% efficiency that could have been achieved by utilising Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology, which is common in many EU countries.

Neil Crumpton, energy and climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"A highly efficient CHP scheme in Newport would have demonstrated global leadership in responding to climate change. Instead, the new power station will waste a third of the gas it uses. This is yet more evidence of Minister's failure to promote energy efficiency and tackle climate change."

Newport would have been a prime location for a CHP scheme. The old steel works site at Llanwern is preparing for major redevelopment so the required hot water pipes could have been laid during the ground work stage. The UK languishes near the very bottom of the European Union's CHP league table (3). Just 7% of UK electricity is generated by CHP, compared to 30% in the Netherlands and 50% in Denmark. Labour's 'aspiration' is for around 35% by 2020 but the reality is that the figure has remained the same for several years.

Notes

1. BERR Approval for 800 MW CCGT by Carron Energy
   
2. The scheme would generate at baseload about 6 TWh/year (0.8 GW x 8.76 hours/year x 0.85% load factor = 5.96 TWh/year). Welsh electricity consumption is 20.35 TWh/year (on a UK per capita basis)
   
3. CHP European league table