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| Renewed fears over future of Longannet power station | Renewed fears over future of Longannet power station |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There are renewed fears for the future of the coal-fired power station at Longannet in Fife, BBC Scotland has learned. | There are renewed fears for the future of the coal-fired power station at Longannet in Fife, BBC Scotland has learned. |
| Scottish Power, which operates the plant, warned last year that the cost of connecting to the grid meant the station may close earlier than planned. | Scottish Power, which operates the plant, warned last year that the cost of connecting to the grid meant the station may close earlier than planned. |
| It is understood talks between Scottish Power and National Grid have stalled. | It is understood talks between Scottish Power and National Grid have stalled. |
| Longannet's location puts it at a disadvantage when competing against English power stations. | Longannet's location puts it at a disadvantage when competing against English power stations. |
| It is understood Longannet is going to try to operate until the end of the decade. | |
| Scottish Power said last October that it cost about £40m a year to keep Longannet connected to the grid, while a similar power station in the south of England would receive a payment of £4m. | Scottish Power said last October that it cost about £40m a year to keep Longannet connected to the grid, while a similar power station in the south of England would receive a payment of £4m. |
| Scotland's move to low carbon forms of electricity generation means Longannet does not have a long-term future. | Scotland's move to low carbon forms of electricity generation means Longannet does not have a long-term future. |
| However, closing the country's biggest power station earlier than planned would cause difficulties. | However, closing the country's biggest power station earlier than planned would cause difficulties. |
| Energy system | Energy system |
| It can increase generation to meet demand, it helps balance the voltage of the grid, and under a process known as Black Start, Longannet would play a key role in re-establishing supplies in the event of nationwide power cuts. | It can increase generation to meet demand, it helps balance the voltage of the grid, and under a process known as Black Start, Longannet would play a key role in re-establishing supplies in the event of nationwide power cuts. |
| It also supports hundreds of well-paid jobs. | It also supports hundreds of well-paid jobs. |
| Last year, Scottish Power said that given the "particularly disproportionate transmission charging penalties applicable to the station" it could not justify entering the plant into the auction for delivering electricity generating capacity for the winter of 2018/19. | Last year, Scottish Power said that given the "particularly disproportionate transmission charging penalties applicable to the station" it could not justify entering the plant into the auction for delivering electricity generating capacity for the winter of 2018/19. |
| A Scottish Power spokesperson said: "We are concerned about Longannet and are currently doing all that we can to guarantee the future of the power station as it plays and essential part of the energy system in Scotland." | A Scottish Power spokesperson said: "We are concerned about Longannet and are currently doing all that we can to guarantee the future of the power station as it plays and essential part of the energy system in Scotland." |
| Longannet is one of the biggest coal-fired power stations in Europe, and generates enough electricity each year to meet the needs of more than two million homes. | Longannet is one of the biggest coal-fired power stations in Europe, and generates enough electricity each year to meet the needs of more than two million homes. |