Grid Operator Requests Extra Electricity Amid Heatwave
Great Britain’s energy system operator has issued a second warning this week regarding electricity supplies as a heatwave continues to impact Europe’s energy markets.
The National Electricity System Operator (Neso) released a notice late on Thursday, urging generators to provide any additional electricity possible on Friday evening to meet the increased demand. This surge in demand is driven by households using air conditioners and electric fans to manage the high temperatures.
Neso explained that the request for extra power supplies was due to forecasts indicating
“tight margins on the electricity system”for Friday evening, attributed to
“the impact of extremely high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the continent”.
Despite the warning, the government-owned body emphasized that electricity supply remains secure and that a blackout is not imminent.
Previous Warning and Market Impact
This market alert follows an earlier warning issued by Neso before a demand increase on Wednesday evening. The high-pressure heat dome responsible for the ongoing heatwave was expected to reduce wind speeds, negatively affecting renewable energy generation.
To maintain supply, the operator had to pay significantly above the usual market price to generators capable of increasing electricity output. These additional costs will ultimately be reflected in household energy bills.
It is estimated that Neso paid approximately £10 million for a few hours of electricity on Wednesday evening, primarily to gas power plants. Similar high payments are anticipated to secure supplies for Friday evening, while power plants across Europe have been forced to shut down due to record temperatures.
Impact on Power Plants and International Supply
Several gas power plants in the UK have reduced their output because of the heat. In France, which provides a substantial portion of the UK’s electricity, four nuclear power plants experienced unplanned outages. These outages occurred because the temperature of nearby river water, used to cool the reactors, rose too high.
The French state-owned utility company EDF announced on Friday that it would allocate €80 million (£69 million) to install cooling systems in schools, nurseries, and daycare centres to help them better cope with future heatwaves.
