The report shows that in 2006 emissions from power stations rose to 178 million tonnes of CO2 - an increase of 6% over 2005 - after a sector-wide return to coal use driven by high gas prices and increasing electricity demand.
The sector’s emissions have now reached the highest level since 1992, cancelling out all of the gains from the so-called dash for gas in the 1990s, the report compiled by energy consultants IPA Energy + Water says. With the power sector accounting for nearly one-third of UK carbon emissions, the report notes that the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme has failed to stop the return to coal as the price of carbon has crashed.
The report, ‘UK Power Sector Emissions - targets or reality?’ also raises concerns over current government polices. WWF warns that the rise in power sector emissions is likely to be the biggest single reason why the government will miss its target of a 20% CO2 reduction by 2010 and may see it miss proposed targets under the Climate Change Bill to cut emissions by 26-32% by 2020 by a wide margin.
Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK said: “The dash for gas in the nineties helped drive down carbon emissions almost by accident - but the power sector is now on a 'roll to coal' with profound environmental implications. If the government is serious about climate change, the power sector has to be brought to heel - either through incentives or legislation - so that coal burn is dramatically reduced.”
WWF recommends urgent action to curb electricity consumption, promote renewables and decentralised energy, and make clear that coal-fired power stations will not be allowed to run at high load factor in future unless they capture their carbon emissions.
The report comes as the UK government reveals that overall carbon emissions have risen to their highest level since the ruling Labour government came to power more than a decade ago.
Provisional government data put the year-on-year increase at 1.25%, though the true increase in emissions is expected to be higher when shipping and aviation are included. The data also excludes the effect of the EU ETS.
Environment secretary David Miliband said: “Despite this year’s provisional figures, we have a good foundation to build on. We’re still on track to almost double our Kyoto commitment, with an estimated 23.6% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 1990 levels by 2010, and we expect the long-term downward trend to continue.”
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