Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2023 to Question 190540 on Drax Power Station, what estimate his Department has made of the potential cost to (a) consumers and (b) taxpayers of bringing two coal-fired units at Drax North Yorkshire plant out of retirement in winter 2023-24.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2023 to Question 190540 on Drax Power Station, at the request of Government, National Grid Electricity System Operator undertook discussions with the operators of two winter 2022/23 contingency coal plants to establish whether these arrangements could be extended for winter 2023/24.

Last winter this cost was in the region of £340m to £395m, subject to the resale of unused coal. Costs for winter 23/24 were expected to be lower as the coal stocks from the previous winter were expected to be available to use.

These discussions have now concluded.

Both Drax and EDF have confirmed that they will not be able to make the coal units available next winter and have begun decommissioning their coal units.