Think tank tells UK ministers: Take over gas power plants to make energy supply safer
The group Common Wealth says private gas power stations can charge very high prices when there isn’t enough renewable energy.
A think tank has suggested that Britain should take back control of these gas power stations to stop private companies from controlling electricity prices.
These old fossil fuel power plants could be nationalised, especially since the government wants to cut gas use to just 5% of the electricity supply by 2030, the report says.
“Putting the stations under public control could also stop the companies from charging up to 100 times the normal price when renewable energy is low.
Privately owned gas power plants are taking advantage of their special position in the energy market. They charge extremely high prices to provide electricity at short notice, knowing the grid has no choice but to pay,” it said.
“This means British families are basically giving their money to billionaire-owned private companies and even foreign governments,” it added, pointing to several huge payments made to a few power plants earlier this year.
In January, The Guardian reported that nearly £18 million was paid to just two power plants to run for a few hours during a cold spell when there was little wind power.
The Connah’s Quay gas plant in north Wales, owned by the German government through the company Uniper, made £10.3 million. The Rye House gas plant, near London, which is owned by a private equity firm called Vitol, got nearly £7.5 million.
Would you like this to be even shorter or used in a specific format?
The companies said they spent a lot of money on the power plants during the year so they would be ready to use on the few days when they’re really needed to keep Britain’s electricity supply safe.
Paul Morozzo from Greenpeace UK said: “Since the government wants a mostly clean energy system by 2030, with just a small backup of gas, taking control of these plants could stop companies from charging too much.
“The quicker the government stops this unfair profit-making, the quicker people’s bills can go down.”
The group Common Wealth, which works on public ownership ideas, said the government should set up a backup system of gas power stations. These would only be used when electricity demand is very high.
As the UK moves toward clean energy, these backup gas plants could then be slowly shut down.
A government spokesperson said: “Our goal is to have clean power by 2030. This will reduce our need for unreliable fossil fuels by using clean energy made in Britain – the best way to lower bills and make our energy supply more secure.”
Published: 29th April 2025
For more article like this please follow our social media Twitter, Linkedin & Instagram
Also Read:
UK Public Debt Hits Record High: Impact on Future Budgets
How BoE’s Digital Pound Project is Progressing in 2025
UK Manufacturing Sees Modest Growth Amid Global Slowdown
