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The government is already in negotiations with EDF Energy about how it can fast-track the energy firm鈥檚 investment in a new nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point ahead of the introduction of the government鈥檚 electricity market reforms.

Today the government which sets out how it will offer guaranteed prices for electricity from new plants under a system known as 鈥渃ontracts for difference鈥�. The proposals are considered crucial to bringing forward a new wave of energy infrastructure investment, particularly nuclear new build, as they give certainty to investors.

The government also said it would also put in place an interim measure of 鈥渋nvestment instruments鈥�, which mirror the contracts for difference, to ensure that projects are able to be given the green light ahead of the introduction of the full proposals in 2014.

Energy secretary Ed Davey confirmed the government has already started negotiations with EDF Energy, which is set to make its final investment decision on whether to press ahead with plans to build two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley in Somerset before the end of the year, over how they can ensure the French firm鈥檚 investment is forthcoming.

Davey said: 鈥淭hey have only just started but we are clear that the [Energy] Bill is about signalling to all investors that you have a stable long term framework to make your investment.鈥�

鈥淲e wanted to make sure there was no investment hiatus. Part of the key role of this bill is that it鈥檚 a key growth measure.鈥�

However, the proposals contain no figures on the 鈥渟trike price鈥� 鈥� the price that energy firms can expect to be paid for each unit of electricity  - that electricity suppliers could expect and those figures will only be published for consultation next spring before being fixed late next year.

David Nickols, global managing director of renewable energy consultancy WSP Future Energy, said: 鈥淯nfortunately, there is nothing of sufficient substance in today鈥檚 announcement that will allow those investment decisions that are currently on hold to be signed off.鈥�

鈥淒evelopers have already had a long period of uncertainty and this is set to continue,鈥� he added.

Alastair Smith, chair of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers鈥� power division, said the investment instruments were welcome but added: 鈥淲e were hopeful that [by now] we would get much more concrete information. It would be good if they had been much more advanced so we could start building things.鈥�