In the week that RWE npower opened a new gas station at Staythorpe, their CEO Volker Beckers has spoken about how eagerly the industry anticipates the Government’s Energy Bill.

The company has invested £1 billion in the industry over the last three years and contributed a “total 2100 megawatts” with new installations.

With so much money and effort poured in, Mr Beckers thinks that the UK government must now show commitment to the sector.

EU-wide pressure made this increasingly necessary, he told ELN: “There is competition between all 27 member states in Europe and the UK has by far the highest green investment needs within Europe.

“To put this in context, as the minister [Charles Hendry] has said, we will need about £200 billion to be invested by 2025. What’s important is to have a reliable, consistent energy policy which addresses the following needs.”

A “level playing field” across low carbon technologies was key, he said, as well as a clear framework for the sector so that it could continue to grow.

Mr Beckers added: “The next milestone will be the energy White Paper, which again Charles Hendry reiterated [at the Staythorpe launch] they will deliver before summer recess. That will be the proof in the pudding.”

The Energy Bill is expected either later this summer or next year.