National Grid’s blackouts alert

Gap between capacity and demand hits six-year low

BRITAIN faces a greater risk of blackouts this winter, experts say, following news the gap between supply and demand will be ‘tight’.

The National Grid’s annual winter outlook, which assesses the UK’s readiness to keep the lights on, forecast an electricity margin of 6.6 per cent capacity – the lowest in six years.

The organisation said it is confident that this is sufficient to ensure the lights stay on through the dark and cold months ahead, but others are not convinced. The UK relies

‘Turn down the voltage in cables’

on imports of gas and electricity from the Continent via pipeline and undersea cable, particularly during winter.

A fire last month at Britain’s main subsea electricity import cable connected to France has reduced the amount of electricity imported from nuclear power stations on the Continent by half.

The cost of gas, which is used to fuel many UK power stations, is pushing up the price of electricity. As the same time, unusually low wind levels has hit output from offshore wind farms. Tom Edwards, a consultant at market researcher Cornwall Insight, warned: ‘If we have a very cold winter there is a chance of blackouts.

‘Somebody will have to not use electricity, some large industrial companies like car manufacturers may have to turn off.’

The National Grid has measures at its disposal to head off blackouts, including ordering major energy users to shut down at short notice to free up supplies to homes. The system can also turn down the voltage in the cables, dimming the lights, creating what is known as a brown-out.

The National Grid admitted electricity supplies will be ‘tight’ this winter, however Fintan Slye, executive director of ESO – part of the National Grid – insisted the system would manage.

‘We are confident that there will be enough capacity available to keep Britain’s lights on,’ he said.

Industry leaders have called for ‘urgent action’. Bosses from industries such as steel, glass, ceramics and chemicals are set to meet Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng today. They want the Government to financially support them in coping with soaring energy prices, but Mr Kwarteng is not expected to offer extra assistance.