Greenpeace Protesters Arrested After Climbing 75m Chimneys at UK Gas Power Station

Eight Greenpeace activists climbed two 75-meter chimney stacks at the Staythorpe Power Station in Nottinghamshire to protest the role of gas pricing in setting electricity costs in the UK. The protesters unfurled a banner reading "The Great Gas Rip-Off: Now on!" to highlight that although gas generates only part of the UK's electricity, it largely determines the wholesale price due to market mechanisms. Gas-fired power stations accounted for 43% of electricity generation in 2021 but set the price 97% of the time, often because gas plants can quickly meet demand spikes. Greenpeace criticized the high costs to consumers, noting the UK spent an extra £90 billion on gas between 2021 and 2024 following global price shocks linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Four protesters descended and were arrested for trespassing, while the power station remained operational with safety prioritized by the owner, RWE. The protest underscores concerns over the energy market's pricing structure and its impact on electricity bills amid fluctuating gas prices.