David Porter, the chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers (AEP) has defended UK power stations, after an EU report released today lumped several of them in with a group of air polluters that together cost EU citizens billions of euros.

Among the UK power stations featured on the European Environment Agency’s list of most costly industrial air polluters were the Drax Power Station in Selby, ScottishPower’s Longannet plant and EDF’s Cottam station.

While admitting “it is not surprising” fossil-fuel power stations feature on the list, Mr Porter said: “What do not seem to be acknowledged by reports of this kind are the enormous economic and social benefits that a reliable supply of electricity delivers.

“Nevertheless, electricity producers are committed to reducing air polluting emissions. Electricity companies have made massive investments in expensive equipment to drastically reduce emissions from power stations in the last 20 years.”