Clarification on Ratcliffe on Soar power station closure date
Ratcliffe on Soar power station has four 500MW units in total. Three of the units at Ratcliffe already have capacity market agreements in place and there has been no change to our commitment to operate these three units until the end of September 2024 when the power station will close in line with government policy.
In 2021, we announced that the remaining fourth unit would close earlier in September 2022. Last year, the Government asked Uniper to explore the possibility of keeping the unit at Ratcliffe power station, due to close in September 2022, open for longer. We were pleased to announce that we’re able to support the Government’s request, and the unit was made available to the system operator to dispatch if needed, until 31 March 2023.
As requested by Government, Uniper looked at whether it can continue to have four units at Ratcliffe available to run under standard market arrangements for another winter. Uniper prequalified it’s fourth Ratcliffe Unit, in line with the rules, to take part in the Capacity Market T-1 auction for 2023/24, held in February, and was successful in securing an agreement. The unit will then close along with the rest of the power station, at the end of September 2024, in line with Government policy.
About Uniper
Düsseldorf-based Uniper is an international energy company with activities in more than 40 countries. With around 7,000 employees, it makes an important contribution to security of supply in Europe. Uniper’s core businesses are power generation in Europe, global energy trading, and a broad gas portfolio. Uniper procures gas – including liquefied natural gas (LNG) – and other energy sources on global markets. The company owns and operates gas storage facilities with a capacity of more than 7 billion cubic meters. Uniper plans for its 22.5 GW of installed power-generating capacity in Europe to be carbon-neutral by 2035. The company already ranks among Europe’s largest operators of hydroelectric plants and intends to further expand solar and wind energy, which are essential for a more sustainable and autonomous future.
Uniper is a reliable partner for communities, municipal utilities, and industrial enterprises for planning and implementing innovative, lower-carbon solutions on their decarbonization journey. Uniper is a hydrogen pioneer, is active worldwide along the entire hydrogen value chain, and is conducting projects to make hydrogen a mainstay of the energy supply.
About Uniper UK
In the UK, Uniper owns and operates a flexible generation portfolio of seven power stations, a fast-cycle gas storage facility and two high pressure gas pipelines, from Theddlethorpe to Killingholme and from Blyborough to Cottam. We also have significant long-term regasification capacity at the Grain LNG terminal in Kent, to convert LNG back to natural gas.
This report may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Uniper SE Management and other information currently available to Uniper. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. Uniper SE does not intend, and does not assume any liability whatsoever, to update these forward-looking statements or to modify them to conform with future events or developments.