Winter power cuts are a probability not a possibility

 

We thought that these two articles in The Times are incredibly relevant. This first, setting out the probability  not possibility of power cuts next winter sets out in plain language the mess our energy policy is in. Just to remind you, the same politicians who landed us in this pickle are the same ones who are telling us that we can solve the problem my throwing billions of your children’s and grand-children’s future earnings at Chinese and French nuclear interests at Hinkley C.

For the avoidance of doubt, this quote from Paul Johnson tells it like it is.

“First up for cuts in the event of a shortfall in electricity supply would be a number of big industrial users,” said Paul Johnson of the Industrial Communities Alliance, which represents 60 local authorities in industrial areas of the UK.

“Then the voltage on the grid would be reduced. And then there would have to be controlled disconnections of households and other businesses.”

And then hits the nail on the head…

“If all these closures go ahead there won’t be enough generating capacity to keep the lights on next winter. It wouldn’t matter if the power stations that are closing were being replaced by new generating capacity. But that’s not happening.”

Meanwhile, in another Times article, a future is set out where we may be free of both reliance on an inefficient, expensive grid network and political meddling in the energy market.

Energy UK, the body that represents British Gas, E.ON, EDF, National Grid, RWE and 85 other companies, said that the era of building giant power plants to pump electricity on demand to households and businesses was coming to a close.

Instead, the British energy market is shifting to a new model, in which small-scale electricity generation via rooftop solar panels and wind turbines will become increasingly important in meeting demand, according to a report published by Energy UK today. The report, Pathways to 2030, says that the model will also involve battery storage and the importing of electricity.

More factories, warehouses, schools and houses generating and consuming their own electricity means less need for a central, supply-led generating system.

If you want your business to be part of this revolution in the way we produce and use electricity, we’re ready to talk, contact us here..

You can read the two articles from The Times here and here...