The UK's energy system operator warned of potential strain on power supplies Thursday night due to extreme temperatures and high demand from cooling systems. France's EDF also noted heatwave impacts on its nuclear reactors, which export power to the UK.
Great Britain's National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a second electricity supply alert this week, asking generators for extra power on Friday evening due to high demand from air conditioning and reduced generation capacity caused by Europe's heatwave.
Britain's grid operator, Neso, is expected to pay millions to secure extra electricity on Wednesday evening due to extreme heat straining the energy system. High demand from air conditioning and low wind generation prompted the payment to avoid a rare summer power supply crunch.
The UK's National Energy System Operator (Neso) has offered grid connections to over 700 clean energy projects, clearing a two-year backlog and enabling nearly 60% of schemes needed for 2030 targets. Reforms prioritize "shovel-ready" projects, boosting investor certainty and aiming to lower energy bills.
There will still be a need to have gas in the wings to keep the lights on, so the financials stack up on Severn plant purchaseThe eye-catching non-Hormuz news in energy-land last month was that Great Britain is set for a record-breaking summer for wind and solar power generation. The national energy system operator even thought there could be periods – a sunny weekend or a bank holiday afternoon of low demand, for example – when more renewable power would be available than the electricity grid needed.So, on the face of it, it is an odd moment for Centrica, owner of British Gas, to fork out £370m to buy a 16-year-old combined-cycle gas turbine plant in south Wales. After all, the government’s clean power plan imagines that, come 2030, Great Britain’s entire fleet of gas plants will be used to generate only 5% of its electricity, down from 31.5% in 2025. Continue reading...
