In a speech delivered on 18 November 2015 and a
subsequent written statement, Amber Rudd has set out the
government's vision for the future of energy supply in the UK.
The energy secretary has put security of supply front and centre,
in what has been billed as an energy policy reset. With the
National Grid forecasting that spare capacity could be as low as
1.2% this winter, many will welcome this announcement. However it
remains to be seen just how smoothly Ms Rudd's proposals can be
implemented.
The speech covered a number of major points. In addition to
plans for a further three Contract for Difference
(CfD) auction rounds for certain less established
renewable technologies and increased nuclear generation, Ms Rudd
announced that The Department of Energy & Climate Change
(DECC) will consult on the phasing out of unabated
coal-fired generation by 2025. In so doing, the Energy Secretary
has accelerated a process which many had seen as inevitable.
