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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 11h

quite!

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

Thanks to Ember for the whizzy widget

ember-energy.org/dat...

Link to Bloomberg story

www.bloomberg.com/fe...
8/8

European electricity prices and costs | Ember

This data tool compares European electricity prices, carbon prices and the cost of generating electricity using fossil fuels and renewables. Where possible, data is provided by country.

ember-energy.org

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

3) And if we add social cost of carbon to the cost of a new gas plant…

…then we're talking more like £150-180/MWh (!)

Ouch. Bit different to £55/MWh.
7/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

3) Of course, the other big thing Coutinho is ignoring here is CO2 prices

At current UK CO2/gas prices, without paying for the plant, gas is £80/MWh

But if we based it on actual CO2 damages (social cost of carbon) it would be more like £100/MWh, again summer gas prices
6/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

2) If UK goes for gas (& nuclear?) instead of renewables, presumably as Coutinho favours, then we'd need new gas plants to meet rising demand from EVs, data centres, etc…

…and NEW gas plants would be more like £105+/MWh *excl CO2 price*, even at summer prices for the gas
5/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

2) Coutinho's £55/MWh is just the cost of the gas to generate electricity, which assumes that the power plant itself comes for free

That would be nice

But gas plants do cost money to build – and that cost has been soaring

Per Bloomberg, CAPEX has gone up >200% (!)
4/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

1) conveniently, Coutinho has picked price data for August 2025, in the summer, when gas prices are always lower

indeed, last winter, the equivalent figure would have been £86/MWh, see pic

– and prices reached £260/MWh in energy crisis
3/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

The UK Conservatives have pledged to scrap the UK's Climate Change Act, as well as carbon pricing on electricity. They have not said what they would do instead.

So shadow energy sec claims gas power would only cost £55/MWh without CO2 pricing…

…but omitted a few details
2/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 12h

FACTCHECK: Claire Coutinho claims UK gas power only costs £55/MWh…

…but she is ignoring a few small details:

🤫 Gas prices always rise in winter
🤫 Gas plants cost money to build
🤫 CO2 causes economic damages

THREAD with receipts

1/8

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 15h

Thanks Tom! Would be great to see some LCOE numbers based on latest prices (capex, fuel etc) – even better in a spreadsheet where I could play with the numbers. Do you know of a handy LCOE calculator widget?

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 15h

Meanwhile, back when the Conservatives played a constructive role in UK climate politics…

www.carbonbrief.org/...
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Factcheck: What the Climate Change Act does – and does not – mean for the UK - Carbon Brief

The UK’s Climate Change Act is a landmark piece of legislation that guides the nation’s response to global warming and has proved highly influential around the world.

www.carbonbrief.org

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 15h

So have I got this right?
1️⃣Conservatives want to scrap UK Climate Change Act
2️⃣They claim to believe "climate change is real", but won't say what they'd do about it
3️⃣ They'd scrap CO2 pricing, economists' favourite option
4️⃣Dissenters are ideological "fools"
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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

Thanks Guy!

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Reposted by Simon Evans

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · 1d

A brilliant piece on what the UK's Climate Change Act does, why it's inspired action around the world, and how the Tories were key to creating it - despite their current leader now wanting to destroy it

bsky.app/profile/drsi...

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

FACTCHECK: What the Climate Change Act actually means for the UK – and what is a load of old nonsense

Really enjoyed putting this together with colleagues, inc learning new things about the fascinating backstory to the Act

Feat. OG authors of the Act & more

www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-wh...

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Reposted by Simon Evans

Adam Bell @adambell.bsky.social · 1d

This is really good. Nothing about the CCA has obliged the Government to go down the centrally planning route the Conservatives now decry. Moreover, the Conservatives were in office for all but two of the first 17 years of the CCA. /1

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

FACTCHECK: What the Climate Change Act actually means for the UK – and what is a load of old nonsense

Really enjoyed putting this together with colleagues, inc learning new things about the fascinating backstory to the Act

Feat. OG authors of the Act & more

www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-wh...

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

Thanks Adam! It's sad that there doesn't seem to be political appetite for a thoughtful debate on the Act and how it has been vs could be implemented. Rant over reason…

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

@jillongovt.bsky.social @watsonjim.bsky.social @carbonbrief.org @daisydunne.carbonbrief.org @mollylempriere.carbonbrief.org @joshgabbatiss.bsky.social

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

FACTCHECK: What the Climate Change Act actually means for the UK – and what is a load of old nonsense

Really enjoyed putting this together with colleagues, inc learning new things about the fascinating backstory to the Act

Feat. OG authors of the Act & more

www.carbonbrief.org/factcheck-wh...

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 1d

it's deffo electricity and (contra Guardian) all renewables combined overtaking coal, not just wind/solar

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 2d

have you tried switching it off and switching it on again…?

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Reposted by Simon Evans

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 3d

*gasp*

“Everyone thought we’d come in and there were going to be these huge costs we could cut away but there just aren’t,” said a third senior Reform cabinet member in Kent.

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 5d

Love this trend, there are lots near us in Walthamstow

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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 5d

Meanwhile, back in the real world
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Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 5d

This article by Sebastian Payne, Times columnist, leader writer and wannabe politician, is so very revealing

* does not know last auction got >6GW of wind
* thinks AR5 issues included grid constraints
* invokes cheaper-than-renewable energy, but won't name it

Mere details!
1/2

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Reposted by Simon Evans

Andrew Sissons @acjsissons.bsky.social · 5d

I know this is a futile exercise, but let’s count the mistakes in that one Payne paragraph…

1. “Renewables are no longer the cheapest form of energy” - don’t think so. Offshore wind has got more expensive recently, but onshore and solar remain cheap. And gas probably still costs more than offshore

Simon Evans @drsimevans.carbonbrief.org · 5d

A question for Times columnist Sebastian Payne:

What is this cheaper source of "energy" that you speak of?

The world's energy experts would like to know…

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