Heatwaves continue to put pressure on power grids

Extreme heat across Europe is continuing to put pressure on Britain’s energy system.

NESO issued another Electricity Margin Notice last Thursday asking for more power to be made available on the market.

The system operator stressed that despite unprecedented weather conditions across Great Britain and Europe in June, the electricity system remained secure and no customers were disconnected. It said the notice was a “routine operational tool” it uses to balance the electricity system.

Jess Ralston, energy analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said it was clear climate change was now also hitting power systems, “from gas plants being harder to cool to reduced capacity to transmit electricity on power lines”.

“With high temperatures across Europe too, France's nuclear fleet is being impacted as the reactors shut down if they can't be cooled. This supply crunch comes at the same time that demand is rising from air con and fans,” she said.

Meanwhile NESO has denied claims made in parliament by shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho about its handling of information and decision-making around network stability.