How Late June’s Heatwave Melted Britain’s Power Network

Electricity transmission [credit: green lantern electric]

” data-image-caption=”" data-large-file=”https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/electricity1.jpg?w=460″ src=”https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/electricity1.jpg” alt=”" width=”460″ height=”276″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-22149″ srcset=”https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/electricity1.jpg 460w, https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/electricity1.jpg?w=150&h=90 150w, https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/electricity1.jpg?w=300&h=180 300w” sizes=”auto, (max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px” />
Heatwaves have always happened in the UK, even long ones like the famous 1976 event. But there was no fundamental weather issue for electricity generation until the most recent two decades or so, when heavily subsidised and intermittent renewables took a significant role in the system as coal power was eliminated and gas-fired power stations became less profitable, so fewer new ones were built. Now a new set of problems emerges under certain weather conditions (unusual heat plus low wind), requiring emergency fuel-powered backup (mostly gas, coal or nuclear) from anywhere that has it to spare, at whatever price they want. Ironically solar panels don’t like too much sun.
– – –
It was supposed to be a quiet time of year for the people who oversee Britain’s energy network, says The Telegraph (via Climate Dispatch).

Instead, a surprise heatwave, geopolitical turmoil, and sheer bad luck have exposed the cracks in the country’s power system.

Before Friday evening, grid chiefs issued their second electricity margin notice of the week – an alert that effectively signals things are becoming a little too close for comfort.

The notice urges generators to squeeze every last bit of capacity they can out of their plants.

It followed a similar warning on Tuesday evening, as sweltering temperatures prompted households and businesses to turn on fans and air conditioners to keep cool.

To bolster supplies, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) was eventually forced to call upon gas-fired power stations and European neighbours – at significant costs.

That’s despite that less than a month ago, Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, boasted that the country was producing “more clean power than ever before.”

He has repeatedly argued that shifting away from oil and gas would get Britain off the “roller coaster” of fossil fuel prices that drives up costs. [Talkshop comment – by making costs high all the time?]

So what went wrong?

Normally, the summer months are seen as quiet because warm weather means people use less electricity and gas for heating.

But this week, grid operators have been grappling with a cocktail of misfortunes – not least the exceptionally hot weather.

Extreme heat batters Britain’s electricity system from two directions because it pushes up demand while also squeezing supply, explains Tom Edwards, of energy consultancy Cornwall Insight.

What also makes things harder are the consumption patterns. Electricity usage usually peaks reliably at breakfast time and then again in the evenings as people get home from work.

But when it is this hot, households and businesses turn on fans and air conditioners to keep cool throughout the day. Some also keep them on through the evening and night, when there’s less solar power being generated. [Talkshop comment – meaning none at all for several hours].

Read more here.
– – –
Image: Electricity transmission [credit: green lantern electric]

Source: https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2026/06/27/how-late-junes-heatwave-melted-britains-power-network/