Amber Rudd to ignore advice and commit to gas

UK Energy Secretary Amber Rudd is set to commit the UK to driving up the number of gas-fired power stations in the UK over the next decade, despite her own climate advisory panel urging her low-carbon electricity would be cheaper.

In a speech later, Rudd will say gas is “central to our energy secure future”.

“One of the greatest and most cost-effective contributions we can make to emission reductions in electricity is by replacing coal fired power stations with gas,” she is expected to say.

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“In the next 10 years, it’s imperative that we get new gas-fired power stations built.”

Ms Rudd will lament the fact that no form of power generation can be built without government intervention.

She will argue that it “cannot be satisfactory” that the UK continues to rely on “polluting, carbon intensive 50-year-old coal-fired power stations”.

But the Government's climate advisory panel concluded last month that low-carbon electricity, rather than gas, is the cheapest way to provide power and meet carbon targets.

Since its election in May the Government has cut subsidies for some wind and solar power projects.

A leaked letter from Ms Rudd also revealed last week that the UK expects to miss its EU target to provide 15 per cent of its energy from renewables by 2020.

She subsequently said she was urging other departments, especially transport, to help ensure the target is met.

Ms Rudd will also hit out at opponents of nuclear power in her speech today.

The Government is rolling out an extensive nuclear programme including plants at Hinkley Point as well as Wylfa and Moorside.

Ms Rudd will insist: “Opponents of nuclear misread the science. It is safe and reliable”.