BY SACHIN KUMAR
DOHA: Qatar is set to benefit from the change in dynamics of energy consumption in the United Kingdom (UK). Britain uses coal, gas and nuclear power plants to generate electricity. It is looking to reduce usage of coal for electricity generation in a bid to move towards clean energy while its nuclear power plants will complete their work life cycle by 2020, leaving gas as the major source for electricity generation.
“We are in the process of trying to change the whole way in which energy is used and electricity in particular is generated in UK. Nuclear power plants are coming to the end of their working lives so they will have to come off stream in the 2020s,” Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary, Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK told The Peninsula.
“The coal fired power stations will all have to stop working as well by 2020 because European legislations say we got a lot of generating plants which will need to be replaced, and that will be replaced by new nuclear plants, new gas stations renewable plants,” he said.
This change in energy consumption dynamics is likely to boost demand for gas for generating electricity. Qatar will be the biggest beneficiary of rising demand as the UK imports 90 percent of its LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) from Qatar.
“I suspects in the first place that coal will be replaced by gas that would be most likely thing to do. Renewable energy is intermittent, sometimes wind does not blow, sometimes the sun doesn’t shine and nuclear power stations take a very long time to build. The quickest way of making sure that your energy needs are met is through gas,” he said.
The UK is expected to invest around 100bn pounds in its electricity system in next 10 years. Lovegrove is in Doha to attract investment from Qatar to UK and discuss issues of mutual interest and the meetings have yielded positive signals.
“The principal purpose of being here is to cement and reinforce the ties UK has with Qatar who has been very important trading and energy partner for us over many years,” said Lovegrove. “We got projects for new gas fired power stations, which obviously would be great deal of interest to Qatar with their marvelous reserve of liquid natural gas. There is potential investments in Renewable energy which we are very keen to pursue there are even investments in Nuclear energy side which might be suitable for some partners here,” he added.
The Peninsula
