Eggborough Power Station set for closure after ceasing 'to be economically viable'

One of the UK’s last remaining coal-fired power stations, Eggborough Power Station, is set to close later this year.

The owner of the Eggborough plant in East Yorkshire has announced the closure after failing to secure funding through the “capacity market” for 2018-2019. This is a process which pays suppliers to be available to provide electricity so the lights don’t go out.

Eggborough, which is one of the country’s largest coal-fired power stations, includes four units and supplies 5% of the power in the UK.

It is estimated that around 200 employees currently work on the site.

Eggborough Power Limited released a statement, which read: “The power plant will continue to meet its obligations under the current capacity market contract, which runs through to the end of September 2018, but without a contract for future years it will cease to be economically viable to continue operations.”

Eggborough Power Station has been operational since 1970 and was originally supposed to have a 25-year life span.

Adam Booth, managing director at Eggborough Power, also said: “With the age of the plant and the current Government’s policy that all UK coal-fired power generation must cease by 2025, Eggborough has been under threat of closure for the past few years.

“Eggborough has a proud history of generation and a dedicated and skilled workforce. We will work through the consultation with employee representatives and provide support to employees throughout this process.”