Under a business as usual scenario, the country’s electricity supplies “can only be secured by granting an extension to existing coal-fired power stations,” a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said. According to a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers , the UK 's plan to shut all coal - fired power stations by 2025 , combined with the closure of ageing nuclear plants , may lead to electricity supply shortages . The report says that under a business as usual scenario , the UK 's energy supply can only be secured by extending the life of existing coal - fired power stations , which currently produce more than 25 % of the UK 's electricity . It is estimated that the UK would need to construct around 30 new gas plants over a period of ten years in order to fill the electricity gap that would be created . A spokesman from the Department for Energy and Climate Change said the UK will carry out a consultation this year to discuss its plans for coal station closures .
According to a report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers , the UK 's plan to shut all coal - fired power stations by 2025 , combined with the closure of ageing nuclear plants , may lead to electricity supply shortages . The report says that under a business as usual scenario , the UK 's energy supply can only be secured by extending the life of existing coal - fired power stations , which currently produce more than 25 % of the UK 's electricity . It is estimated that the UK would need to construct around 30 new gas plants over a period of ten years in order to fill the electricity gap that would be created . A spokesman from the Department for Energy and Climate Change said the UK will carry out a consultation this year to discuss its plans for coal station closures .