Sep 15 - Independent, The; London (UK)

The UK will fail to meet its climate change targets unless ministers give much more thought to how to replace the output from the current generation of nuclear power stations when they reach the end of their lives, a report by MPs says today.

Renewable energy sources such as wind power are due to provide up to 20 per cent of the country's electricity needs by 2020, while the Government's longer-term aim is to reduce the UK's carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

However, the influential Commons Public Accounts Committee warns today that the future of renewable energy remains uncertain. Edward Leigh, the chairman of the committee, also criticises the pounds 5bn of financial support that will have been given to renewable energy by 2010, saying one-third of it is not necessary to get schemes off the ground.

Meanwhile, British Energy will announce today that it is extending the life of its Dungeness B nuclear station in Kent, pictured, by between five and 10 years. The reactor was due to close in 2008.

Michael Harrison