Why we propose a new power station at Willington

New regulations, arising from a European Directive (The Large Combustion Plant Directive, or LCPD) mean that a large number of existing coal and oil fired power stations are due to close by 2015. In addition, ageing nuclear stations will close in the years leading up to 2020 as they reach the end of their operational lives.

As a result, the UK is likely to require 15-25GW of new power generation capacity by 2020. Without new power plants, the UK could face a major shortfall in electricity supply.

A new modern power station at our Willington site would make a significant contribution to ongoing energy supply while helping to cut CO₂ emissions. The process of generating electricity from gas is more efficient than other fossil fuels. This results in new gas-fired generation emitting around half the CO₂ emissions when compared to the same amount of electricity generated from existing coal fired power stations.

At the same time as developing new efficient power stations, our sister company RWE npower renewables, part of RWE Innogy, is working to increase the proportion of energy it generates from renewable sources. As one of the largest developers and operators of renewables, it is working to help meet current UK Government targets of supplying 10% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010, 15% by 2015 and 20% by 2020.