Decarbonising the UK power sector

A continued role for firm, flexible generation

Firm, flexible capacity plays a critical role in maintaining UK energy resilience and safeguarding our energy security.

As we rightly move to a renewables-dominated electricity supply, this role will become even more critical, acting as an important partner to other more intermittent technologies. The UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recognises that the UK electricity system in 2035 will still require significant volumes of gas for use with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), whether in post-combustion power plants or via ‘blue’ hydrogen production to fuel gas turbines. This was reiterated by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), who concluded that 30TWh of ‘long-term persistent flexible generation will be needed to manage the potential for prolonged shortfalls during winter’ by 2035. Both the CCC and the NIC also argue that a small amount of unabated fossil gas will be needed on the system to help balance the system and ensure security of supply.

RWE's commitment to decarbonising our power generation assets

Earlier this year RWE set out the steps we are already taking to decarbonise our gas fleet, in line with the UK’s power decarbonisation and Paris Agreement targets and RWE’s own internal decarbonisation goals. In the UK, these steps involve exploring the feasibility of a number of CCS projects. We are currently exploring options to retrofit carbon capture technology at our existing combined cycle gas (CCGT) power stations at Pembroke and Staythorpe. We are also developing proposals for a new gas-fired power station with carbon capture at Stallingborough, close to the Humber Estuary. With a proposed capacity of up to 800MW, this project will have the capability to power around one million homes.

RWE has been involved in the research and development of CCS since 2008: at our Niederauβem Innovation Centre in Germany we have been leading on research into which scrubbing agents can best be used to purify the flue gas of CO2 most efficiently and cost-effectively. The pilot facility at the Innovation Centre captures about 300 kg of carbon dioxide per hour, and has shown that capture rates of up to 98 percent based on the volume of flue gas processed are technically achievable.

In the UK, we are working in partnership with the Viking CCS Cluster project to facilitate transportation and storage of the captured CO2 emissions in the South Humber area. We welcomed the recent awarding of Track-2 status to Viking CCS as part of the government’s CCS cluster sequencing process, and are now working closely with government to ensure swift progress on delivering support for individual capture projects.

In addition, as the lead partner in the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC), we are working to develop decarbonisation options that include CCS for Pembroke Power Station – the UK’s largest CCGT asset – as part of RWE’s broader Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC). The PNZC is also investigating the potential to both use and produce hydrogen at the site.

Unlike many of the UK’s wider industrial clusters, South Wales is unique in requiring a shipping solution for the transport of captured carbon to deep geological storage, due to the lack of suitable carbon storage options nearby). Ensuring the Government brings forward proposals to support CO2 shipping solutions is also an essential item for the UK’s carbon capture landscape.

Working in partnership with government to achieve this ambition

Our ability to continue innovating and deploying low carbon technologies that will help the UK meet its targets on power decarbonisation and Net Zero relies on having the right policy framework in place.

To be able to deliver our vision of a decarbonised power sector, we need to work in partnership with government to create the right pathway for Power CCS, with a focus on:

Delivering a resilient, low carbon grid

The steps we have laid out above are the essential actions needed to unlock power decarbonisation in the UK. It is important to note that beyond this, we also need progress on the broader blockers to all electricity projects: planning, grid connections, supply chain development, and uncertainty over future government support.

Firm, flexible generation capacity is critical to providing the UK with a secure and resilient electricity supply. Working together, we have a clear opportunity to protect this while simultaneously achieving a low carbon grid. At RWE we are playing our part in delivering this and look forward to continuing to work with government and industry partners to get there.