Energy & Science
U.K. Power Grid Creaks at Risk of Blackouts
- National Grid issued fourth market notice this winter
- Flows on interconnectors likely to be reduced Wednesday
Inside the National Grid Plc control centre in Wokingham.
Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
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The U.K. power market is showing signs of strain. For the fourth time this winter National Grid Plc warned that the buffer needed to ensure security of supply and keep the lights on was too small.
While the U.K. has made swift progress on switching from fossil fuels to renewables, this is the downside to cleaning up its energy system. And, like Wednesday, when the wind doesn’t blow, cold weather boosts demand and several nuclear plants are offline the grid operator is left scrambling to avoid blackouts.