The head of a major energy company has said that consumers will have to sacrifice cheap energy bills in order to fund low-carbon power generation in Scotland.
The Scotsman reports that Ignacio Galan, chairman and chief executive of Scottish Power parent company Iberdrola, said that energy companies could raise their prices in order to find £100 billion needed to create clean coal-burning power stations and fund nuclear redevelopment.
With a further £8 billion needed to improve the grid network, many companies will be seeking a greater return on their investment and so consumers could suffer as a result.
Mr Galan told the paper: "The only place in the group for all our technologies in coal will be Scotland. We will not make another thing in any other country."
Many experts consider carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology vital in the development of new coal-fired power stations, and Mr Galan believes Scottish Power will be first to achieve it.
Energy company Npower has become the last of the major British firms to announce an electricity price reduction, although gas will remain the same.
If you want to find out more about your energy options and how you could save up to £378 in minutes, click here.
Save up to £300 on your gas & electricity bills at energyhelpline.com
Compare prices from all energy suppliers to find your best deal