There are fears that the UK’s transition to net-zero could put the energy network at risk (Image: Getty)
The UK came closer to losing power earlier this month than it has done at any point in the last 15 years according to an analyst – and Net-Zero plans could make matters even worse.
In early January, demand for power came close to exceeding supply, causing the National Energy System Operator (Neso) to issue an
Now there are fears that Energy Secretary Miliband’s plans to close traditional coal-fired and nuclear power stations as part of his net-zero agenda could leave the UK susceptible to further blackout risks in the future.
and Neso have both played down the gravity of the close shave but Kathryn Porter, an analyst and expert on grid dynamics believes that the country came close to blackouts.
She said: “Jan 8 was the tightest day for electricity supplies in over 15 years. Market data indicate we came within the loss of one power station of demand control or even blackouts,” she says.
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There are fears that Britain’s push towards net-zero could endanger the power network (Image: Getty)
“Unfortunately, Neso continues to refuse to be transparent about which generating assets or batteries were available to run that day to provide spare margin and reserves. This is disappointing and undermines confidence in their assertions, which are not supported by underlying market data.”
Freezing temperatures across the country led to an increase in demand for power as Britons battled to keep warm.
But falling wind speeds, outages on three interconnectors and at some gas-fired power stations meant generating capacity was down, heightening the risk the demand could outstrip supply.
The looming potential for a blackout forced Neso to fund the turning on of extra generators to ensure the UK’s ability to maintain power at the expense of some of the highest prices for power ever seen, adding an estimated £17 million onto British energy bills.
Last year, the UK shut down its last remaining coal-fired power station which if it had been in operation on January 8, would have prevented even a hint of an energy shortage.
With further closures of at least two nuclear power plants planned in the coming years, there are fears that the UK will be left reliant on weather-dependent sources and susceptible to shortages.
was grilled on the near miss by a select committee where he rejected the notion the Britain came close to being plunged into darkness.
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Miliband has put renewables at the heart of his energy plans (Image: Getty)
He said: “There’s been quite a lot of nonsense talked about this…Neso has said that at no point were electricity supplies less than anticipated demand.”
The incident highlighted the UK’s susceptibility to losing power as Britain transitions to net-zero.
Analysts believe that the peak period of threat to Britain’s power infrastructure will come between 2027 and 2029, due to gaps between the closing down of traditional power sources and the opening of new energy generation capabilities.
Neso’s 10-year plan discusses “growing system needs,” a euphemism for transitioning from traditional power sources to renewable but intermittent energy sources such as wind and solar.
The operator consistently refuses to discuss the possibility of blackouts but has issued guidance on its plans for controlling demands if required.
It said: “If a sudden or short-duration electricity shortfall affected a specific region, or the whole country, we would implement the Demand Control process as set out in the Grid Code…allowing us to instruct distribution network operators to reduce up to 20% of demand at short-notice (five minutes) with an additional 20% made available at one days’ notice.”
In reality, this would mean power companies choosing areas of the country to temporarily shut down power, an eventuality not seen in this country since the 1970s.
Reform MP Richard Tice has expressed his concern over the vulnerability of Britain’s energy network (Image: Getty)
Miliband’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is confident that such plans will never be needed.
A spokesman said: “It is categorically untrue that our electricity or gas supplies have been at risk this winter. We have no concerns and are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand.”
, Reform’s energy spokesman, disagrees, warning that the UK’s energy system is becoming increasingly precarious both in terms of price and security of supply.
He said: “We are not being told the truth. Our energy is becoming more expensive and less secure. The drive to net zero is dramatically increasing prices due to the need to have back up gas and nuclear supply for when renewables are not generating enough electricity,” reports The Telegraph.
He added: “It also increases the risk of rationing or even blackouts at times of low wind, as we saw last week.”