RWE agrees that gas will continue to play a crucial role in the UK’s power mix. However, we do not agree with the report’s conclusion that a large volume of gas assets are due to retire in the next decade, as it is based on the assumption that assets have a lifetime of 30-35 years. It is important to note that gas assets are not limited to a theoretical ‘end of life’; assets can keep operational for decades under a programme of preventative maintenance. It is more efficient and cheaper to invest in refurbishing existing plant before considering building new ones.
