Blackouts less likely this winter says National Grid

The National Grid has said there is a much lower risk of electricity blackouts this winter, compared to last, thanks to increased generation and the ability to manage demand. 

A recent report said this year the UK was “in a different position” and chances of blackouts were almost back to where they were before the energy crisis. 

A scheme to pay people for cutting electricity use at peak times will still be used to help manage demand. 

Craig Dyke, head of national control at National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO), which is responsible for balancing demand and supply on the network, said the main change this year was a “big uptick” in overall capacity.

He also added that “stress events” from last year had faded. 

“Compared to last year it is almost going back to around where it was before last winter,” said Mr Dyke.

“So the risks that we talked about last year, the probability of them occurring, are much, much lower.”

An increase in industrial-scale battery storage would also make a difference, helping to smooth demand-supply imbalances, he said.

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