The UK could suffer a blackout in 10 years if new a energy plan isn't implemented in the wake of the

THE UK risks a blackout within ten years without a new plan for supplying energy.

Yesterday’s stark warning came after Japanese firm Hitachi halted plans for its £20billion nuclear plant at Wylfa, North Wales.

Energy consultant Inenco said: “We urgently need a Plan B to reduce the risk of lights going out in the next decade.”

Hitachi has spent £1billion on the project but pulled the plug due to mounting costs.

It means thousands of construction jobs will not materialise.

A Hitachi nuclear plant at Oldbury, Gloucs, will also be put on hold.

In November Toshiba halted plans for a reactor at Moorside, Cumbria.

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The GMB union and business group CBI warned of a looming energy crisis.

Greenpeace urged the Government to look at renewable energy.

Engineer Prof Sue Ion said: “If nothing is done gas will be our backstop and we will be vulnerable to overseas supplies for decades to come.”

Q & A

WHY DOES THIS REACTOR MATTER? It was due to provide six per cent of Britain’s electricity for 60 years. Now the UK faces a growing supply and demand gap that risks price rises and blackouts.

IS NEW NUCLEAR ENERGY DEAD? Not quite. Government is looking at new ways of funding plants and will report by the summer. Plus, plans for Sizewell C and Bradwell B are progressing.

WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE? Ministers say the cost of renewable forms of energy has fallen “dramatically” — but experts say cost depends on the type of technology used.

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