NESO said Great Britain’s electricity system is prepared for winter, and households and businesses should not face a blackout scare from the outlook it set out. The grid operator said supplies are expected to remain secure throughout the colder months, while warning there could be tight days that require extra generation.
Deborah Petterson on Great Britain
Deborah Petterson, NESO’s director of whole energy system resilience, said: “While we never take resilience for granted, households and businesses can be confident that Great Britain’s electricity system remains secure, reliable and among the most resilient in the world”.
On those tight days, NESO said it would issue notices to power producers that additional electricity generation may be needed. It said that kind of notice is routine and is not a warning of power cuts.
National Gas and winter supply
National Gas said it expected to have sufficient supply to meet demand this winter. It also forecast gas for power generation to increase at peak demand because renewables are intermittent, a reminder that the system still leans on gas when supply and demand need balancing quickly.
Last year, wind power was the largest generator of electricity in Britain, accounting for almost 30% of all power and narrowly ahead of gas. That mix helps explain why NESO has to manage a grid that changes fast when weather conditions shift, even as it says the system remains secure.
Eversheds Sutherland report
An independent investigation by Eversheds Sutherland found engineers had “high levels of stress and concern” about their ability to ensure adequate supply because of differences between renewable and gas-fired generation. The firm said gas was “easier to manage” and renewables were “less flexible”, and it reported a “significant disconnect” between control-room staff and NESO’s leadership.
Multiple witnesses told the investigation that senior leadership and executive positions do not fully appreciate or understand the way the control room works, or the pressures faced by those responsible for “keeping the lights on”. Clare Coutinho said in July that she had been contacted by a whistle-blower alleging issues at NESO, and the probe followed allegations over operational decision making and record keeping at the grid operator.
The reports land as Britain’s energy generation and security face closer scrutiny, with wars in the Middle East and eastern Europe pushing prices up and adding to supply fears. For households and businesses, NESO’s message is straightforward: the system should stay secure, but the operator is still preparing for days when it needs to call on more power.
