Over the next ten years, a significant number of existing coal-fired and nuclear power stations will be closed due to their age and poor environmental performance. New power stations, including gas-fired power stations and renewable generation sources such as wind farms, are required to replace this capacity.

Gas-fired power stations can be constructed within a three-year period, relatively quickly compared to the ten year construction programme of a nuclear plant. Decommissioning a gas-fired plant is also much simpler and less costly than a nuclear power station.