Coal comeback could drive up UK energy emissions – report

Extra coal-burning may lead to problems meeting binding carbon targets

Britain's ability to meet its emissions targets is being challenged by a comeback for coal power stations that threatens to drive up the energy sector's carbon emissions for the first time in six years.

Coal plants have become more economic to run than their gas counterparts in the past month because wholesale gas prices have hit 10-year highs. A report by Imperial College London said the extra coal-burning had increased emissions by 15% in September, equivalent to an extra 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hour.