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The UK could face an energy gap in the near future, it has been predicted, as a number of coal and nuclear plants come to the end of their service.
Recently reported research from energy and environment consultancy Inenco reveals that as the older Magnox nuclear reactors close by 2012, a number of coal-fired stations will also close.
European laws that aim to reduce the emission of pollutants dictate that older coal stations can only operate for a total of 20,000 hours from this year until 2015, when they must be decommissioned.
Recent rises in gas prices have resulted in companies using these stations for longer periods than expected and using up their permitted hours of work sooner.
Michael Abbott, deputy managing director of Inenco, said: "We believe that demand overtakes supply somewhere between 2012 and 2015, creating a serious generation gap."
He added that the recent government announcement about new nuclear stations has led to relief in the industry.
Inenco is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spice, a support services business that operates in the commercial and utilities services sectors.
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