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 190541 on Drax Power Station, if he will place in the House of Commons Library a copy of the assessment of the impact of Drax bringing two coal-fired units out of retirement in winter 2023-24 on UK emissions.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2023 to Question 190541 on Drax Power Station, at the request of Government, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) 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.

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.

Government considered the impacts on equalities, costs to consumers and on the environment in making the decision to request ESO explore extending the arrangements further. However, as ESO discussions with generators were at an early stage a full impact assessment was not carried out.