The lack of urgency within government in relation to the security of the UK's electricity supply this winter is alarming. The National Grid's base case scenario forecasts just about enough energy to meet demand but they appear to assume that the UK is based in a perfect utopia.
I was only in the gov’s energy security team briefly but based on my understanding parts of the UK will face blackouts this winter if any of the following occur: 1) Russia majorly kerbs Nord Stream 1 gas supply to Europe (they already have),
2) Norway provides only minimum guaranteed levels of gas to the UK due to EU price premiums, 3) staff at Gassco, the UK-Norway pipe operator, strike (this would cause the biggest UK crisis since the Blitz), 3) Europe exports less energy to the UK through interconnectors (likely),
4) we have low wind pressure for a long period which reduces our wind power output, 5) fewer Liquified Natural Gas imports due to major global competition, 6) there’s a colder winter than average (like last winter), or 7) we use up all our minimum stored gas.
The biggest levers to keep the lights on have already been pulled, such as the government begging one of the UK’s three remaining coal plants not to close and busting a gut to extract as much gas from UK waters as possible. Shame we turned off our largest nuclear plant this week.
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Just spoke with a former civil servant colleague who has seen the draft strategy to reduce energy costs. The focus is on establishing two task forces, one for onshore wind and another for solar. We are truly screwed.
The problem with Whitehall is that civil servants can completely disregard the express will of ministers - even the Prime Minister - when they think the law is on their side. They will not deviate from the legally binding 2050 net-zero target and the Climate Change Act.
Russian gas supply to Europe has not yet been significantly curtailed or completely halted. If it is - which is a material possibility - the wholesale gas price in Britain could result in the average household bill reaching around £4,000 next winter. This is a monumental crisis.