Britain has burned more coal in the last seven days than at any time in nearly a year, suggesting that progress towards one of the UK’s key climate goals is stalling and illustrating the need for new commercial nuclear power, the London-based Nuclear Industry Association said on 11 January.

The NIA said figures from National Grid ESO show how fossil fuel use spiked in the last week with high demand in cold weather conditions.

Gas and coal regularly hit 60% of electricity generation. Over the same period, the nuclear fleet was the leading zero-carbon generator. However, half of this fleet of 15 plants will retire by the end of 2024, the same time coal is due to be phased out.