Coal is among the most reliable fuels for generating electricity. In normal operating conditions, given a sufficient supply of fuel, 90% of the UK's coal-fired capacity can be assumed to be available to help meet peak demand for electricity.
However, continued use of coal depends on the successful demonstration and installation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology – which could help to reduce coal's contribution to climate change. If CCS can be shown to work on an industrial scale, then coal is expected to continue playing an important role in the UK’s energy mix.
These are the reliability challenges facing coal. Read about the possible solutions.
Find out more about coal as a means of generating electricity.