More gas power stations will be built to avoid blackouts when it is not windy

12 March 2024 , 00:01

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Renewable power sources such as wind now provide around half of the country's energy supply (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

More gas power stations will be built because of fears of blackouts on days when it is not windy, the Government has announced.

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said the country needed a back-up for when the weather “doesn’t power up our renewables”. But Labour accused the Tories of having failed to make the investments needed to reduce bills during their 14 years in power.

In a speech today, Ms Coutinho will say: “There are no two ways about it. Without gas backing up renewables, we face the genuine prospect of blackouts. Other countries in recent years have been so threatened by supply constraints that they have been forced back to coal.

“There are no easy solutions in energy, only trade-offs. If countries are forced to choose between clean energy and keeping citizens safe and warm, believe me they’ll choose to keep the lights on. We will not let ourselves be put in that position. And so, as we continue to move towards clean energy, we must be realistic.”

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, added: “I will not gamble with our energy security. I will make the tough decisions so that no matter what scenario we face, we can always power Britain from Britain.”

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But Labour's Shadow Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “After 14 years of failed Conservative energy policy, under the Tories, Britain would face at least another ten years of high energy bills and energy insecurity because of their plans. Of course we need to replace retiring gas-fired stations as part of a decarbonised power system, which will include carbon capture and hydrogen playing a limited back up role in the system.

“But the reason the Tories cannot deliver the lower bills and energy security we need is that they are specialists in failure when it comes to our clean energy future: persisting with the ludicrous ban on onshore wind, bungling the offshore wind auctions, and failing on energy efficiency.

“Only Labour has a plan to make Britain a clean energy superpower, with our mission to deliver clean power by 2030, taking billions off energy bills for families and boosting Britain’s energy independence. Meanwhile, under the Tories the public will be saddled with higher bills and a totally unfunded £46 billion national insurance blackhole.”

John Stevens