Offshore wind could fill the void created by the cancellation of Moorside nuclear power station in Cumbria, according to an industry expert.
Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit head of analysis Jonathan Marshall (pictured) said the sector could be an alternative, offering the opportunity for greater savings.
“The demise of plans for a new power station at Moorside should be seen as an opportunity, rather than a risk,” he said.
The £15bn Moorside project was scrapped this week after owner NuGen chose not to proceed after failing to make sufficient progress on securing a buyer.
“Shifting away from expensive, complicated technology towards cheaper and easier to build renewables gives the UK the opportunity to build an electricity system that will keep bills for homes and businesses down for years to come,” Marshall added
He said UK offshore wind is already “significantly cheaper” than nuclear, while onshore wind and solar power offering even greater savings.
“The technology needed to shore up supply from variable sources is also getting more competitive, with storage one of the brightest lights. Cancelling Moorside does leave a gap in the UK’s decarbonisation plans, but one that is more likely to be filled with the technologies of the future rather than the past,” Marshall said.