Defra is reforming water abstraction. The evolving policy has important implications for thermal power plants and for industry as a whole, as Karma Ockenden reports

Andy Limbrick of Energy UK says changes in how the UK manages water abstraction are “a major challenge as we try to secure investment in our industry”. Thermal power plants must preserve their access to water in the long run but “in the next 15 years this industry could be turned on its head” as abstraction reform introduced a new risk for thermal plant owners.