Grid operator calls for extra power as wind generation falls

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 21:20 · Archive

The UK's National Energy System Operator issued an electricity margin notice on Sunday night due to forecast low wind generation on Monday morning.

Britain's National Energy System Operator issued an electricity margin notice on Sunday night for Monday morning after forecasting a shortfall of about 1,400 megawatts in its electricity supply margins from 6am to 11am. The shortfall was caused by low wind power generation across Europe. Neso stressed that this was not a warning of power cuts and that customer electricity supplies faced no risk.

The operator used the notice as a precautionary measure to ask market participants to make additional generation capacity available. Neso said the notice would give the market an opportunity to increase capacity and maintain a safety margin between power supply and demand. A Neso spokesperson said: 'This is a routine and precautionary measure, giving market participants the opportunity to make additional generation capacity available.'

According to the Guardian, Neso needed to find extra generation of about 800 megawatts, equivalent to a medium-sized gas power plant, within eight hours before a review scheduled for 4am. A second electricity margin notice issued after that pre-dawn review showed that the shortfall had shrunk to 500 megawatts and no further contingency power was required, though Neso could still call on power plants to generate more than usual between 8am and 11am.

Wind power generation fell significantly over the period. GB News reports that on 2 November, 28 per cent of the UK's electricity came from wind turbines, but by Sunday this had dropped to just 2 per cent according to figures from trade body Future Energy Networks. Gas generation rose from 40 per cent on 2 November to 69 per cent between 10am on Sunday and 10am on Monday.

Electricity margin notices have become more frequent in recent months. The Guardian notes that such notices would typically have been used during cold winter evenings when electricity demand is highest, but recent alerts have included the first margin notices issued during summer when heatwaves pushed demand higher while curbing wind generation. These notices are part of Neso's routine system-balancing operations to ensure the grid remains secure.

How it is being reported

• Britain's wind power plunge shows gas is vital to keep lights on, warn expertsPlummeting wind power over the past week highlights the need for gas-fired electricity to keep the lights on, industry leaders say. As wind output fell, the National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued an alert asking generators to make extra capacity available for this morning. The grid operator's electricity margin notice (EMN) called for a greater safety margin between supply and demand. It was later withdrawn. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say But experts said it showed the need for firm power alongside the intermittent energy provided by wind and solar. Britain is moving towards a clean…GB News · 9 Nov, 21:06
• Rare call for more electricity supplies as wind power drops across EuropeNeso issues ‘electricity margin notice’ for gas power plants on Britain to fire up and boost generation this morning amid energy shortfall The government body tasked with keeping the lights on has issued a rare call for more electricity supplies this morning due to low wind power generation forecasts across Europe on Monday. A notice issued by the National Energy System Operator (Neso) on Sunday night said it faced a “shortfall” of almost 1,400 megawatts in its electricity supply margins from 6am until 11am on Monday. Continue reading...The Guardian · 9 Nov, 07:21
• UK power grid operator issues electricity supply warning for Monday as margin fallsThe UK's power grid has issued a margin notice due to a shortfall.Daily Express · 8 Nov, 21:58

In this story: National Energy System Operator · Future Energy Networks · UK · Europe

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