Paul Golby

Dr. Paul Golby is the chief executive E.ON UK. E.ON UK, a subsidiary of E.ON. generates approximately 10% of the United Kingdom's electricity. The World Coal Institute lists E.ON UK as having 4.9 gigawatts of coal-fired power generation assets in 2005. .

Background
A biographical note states that Golby "has been Chief Executive of E.ON UK since 2002, having joined the company in 1998. He is a member of the Executive Committee of E.ON AG. After gaining a doctorate in mechanical engineering and training as a mechanical engineer, he held a series of management appointments with Dunlop and BTR before becoming an executive director of Clayhithe plc in 1992. He is a fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Energy Institute Council and a member of the Energy Research Partnership. He was awarded an honorary degree by Aston University in 2007 and Cranfield University in 2008. On 1st January, 2009 he was appointed Pro Chancellor of Aston University and Chair of Council."

Defending Kingsnorth
During his term as CEO, E.ON has proposed and lobbied heavily for the construction of a new coal-fired generating unit at the Kingsnorth Power Station. In a 2008 opinion column, Golby dismissed opposition to the proposed new power station, which the company has touted as "Carbon Capture and Storage ready". "The climate campers believe that a combination of wind and wave power and increased energy efficiency will be enough to bridge the gap. But that is simply unrealistic. We also need a new generation of nuclear reactors, more gas storage facilities and gas stations, and a limited number of new coal-fired stations, built ready to be fitted with CCS equipment, which could cut carbon emissions by 90%," he wrote.

"For some environmentalists any new coal station, whatever technology it incorporates, is one coal station too many. Others demand that new coal stations only be permitted if they are fitted with CCS from day one. But how can CCS be developed for full commercial application unless we first build the stations to prove the technology? And how do we fill the energy gap if no new coal plants are to be permitted for at least the next 10-15 years?," Colby wrote. In response, one reader counter-posed questions to Golby: "You say you need to build it to develop CCS, why haven't you developed it in existing plants?" As for the claim that those opposing the Kingsnorth power station advocated only energy efficiency and renewables, they asked "Can you reference these claims please? Are the campers against a decentralised energy network and CHP [Combined Heat and Power] as you exclude these from your statement."

Related SourceWatch articles

 * E.ON UK and Nuclear Power
 * Kingsnorth Power Station
 * European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive
 * The Guardian Climate Change Summit 2009
 * United Kingdom and coal

Articles by Golby

 * Paul Golby, "Energy to burn: Protesters at our coal plant are deluded if they think renewables alone can serve Britain's needs", Guardian, July 31, 2008.
 * Paul Golby, "Going green is not just good for the planet, it could help us out of recession", Telegraph.co.uk, January 18, 2009.

General articles

 * "Paul Golby: Lights out - 'We should not kid ourselves it will always be all right on the night'", The Independent, June 6, 2004.