Closing down the UK’s nuclear power stations and developing energy efficient technologies in the next 10 years will be critical to meeting the nation’s 2050 targets.

According to a new report published by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), carbon capture and storage (CCS) and bioenergy should be the immediate focus.

It highlighted the “enormous potential” of CCS and bioenergy, claiming the cost of delivering climate change targets could double if these technologies are missed.

The report added the UK could move towards an affordable low carbon energy system by commercialising known but currently underdeveloped technologies and solutions.

ETI Strategy Director Jo Coleman said: “People are often surprised by this but CCS must be central to any national strategy for meeting carbon targets cost effectively as it enables flexible, low carbon electricity generation, supports renewables and cuts emissions from industrial processes.”