Britain could face at least 12 gigawatts (GW) of power plant capacity going offline by the end of 2023 due to tighter European Union pollution regulation, Reuters calculations based on government data showed yesterday.

An energy firm that has imposed two price hikes on its customers in the last 14 months saw its profits more than triple last year to €45.7m.

Today is the last day that companies can submit bids to buy the retail and power generation unit of the semi-State gas company Bord Gáis.

Phoenix Energy has agreed to sell its gas supply business to rival power firm Airtricity.