WWF report claims ‘gas bridge’ not necessary to buffer coal phase-out

Shoreham Harbour Gas-fired Power Station (Credit: OLU via CC)

Published in conjunction with climate change think tank Sandbag, Coal to Clean – The end of the gas era is near, outlines the projected energy mix up until 2025.  According to the report, renewables, storage and more flexible technology will provide enough electricity to keep the UK’s grid stable as coal is wound down. It claims that, even by conservative estimates, planned large-scale gas projects aren’t required and that renewable generation will surpass coal’s contribution to the energy mix by 2022.

“The UK government is leading the way and has set an international precedent by sending coal to the dustbin of history,” said Gareth Redmond King, WWF head of Climate and Energy. “However it is essential the government does not substitute one dirty power source for another.

“We need to continue to look forward, doubling down on investment in renewables and targeting our efforts on long-term energy storage. We should focus next on removing gas from the energy mix altogether.”