01 April 2010 - Press Release - DECC sets out gas strategy and consents to new Carrington Plant

The green light was given by the Government today for a 1,520 Megawatt Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant in Carrington, Greater Manchester. The consent accompanied publication of a number of papers setting out the Government’s strategy for ensuring secure UK gas supplies to 2020 and beyond.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“As we make the transition to a low carbon future and our domestic gas reserves decline, we remain vigilant about maintaining energy supplies that are diverse and secure.
“While we remain alert, what was shown this winter when the gas market was tested by extreme circumstances is that the existing gas system is working well. Since 2005 we have facilitated a big increase in import capacity, gas storage capacity as well as improving the information available to the market.”
The Carrington power plant, owned by Wainstones Energy Limited, will have a construction period of about 30 months with full operation scheduled for 2013. The power plant is the first to be consented in line with new carbon capture readiness requirements and the company has prepared a plan explaining how they would retro-fit carbon capture and storage equipment to the plant in the future.
Published today:
The Government’s response to the Malcolm Wicks report ‘Energy Security: A national challenge in a changing world’. The response agrees with the importance of encouraging energy efficiency and adopting low carbon technologies in order to move towards a low-carbon economy. It highlights the mechanisms already being used to ensure the UK has access to energy imports that are affordable, secure and sustainable. The Gas Security of Supply policy statement sets out what is being done to ensure secure gas supplies for the UK in the future. Options considered include: improved market transparency, enhanced financial incentives to balance demand and supply and strengthening shipper and supplier obligations. It also explains why the Government is not pursuing the idea of Government-commissioned gas storage. The Call for Evidence on the new issues arising from the EU’s Third Internal Energy Market Package (“Third Package”). The UK has lead the way in getting the Third Package through EU Parliament. One of the key aims of the Package is to strengthen unbundling of transmission from supply, electricity, generation and gas production businesses to make EU markets more transparent.Notes for editors Public copies of the decision letter and consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 are available from John Swift, DECC

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