National Grid Winter Outlook Report: Reaction & Response

Dr Jonathan Marshall, Energy Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) responded to National Grid’s Winter Outlook report, published today, with the following statements:

“The increased cushion between supply and demand in this year’s Winter Outlook shows that power cuts are exceedingly unlikely. A boost on last year – when there were no issues in the system – shows that the UK continues to have a reliable electricity system as we go through this period of transition.

The UK continues to have a reliable electricity system as we go through this period of transition.

 

“The 6.6% margin is comfortably within National Grid’s statutory requirements from the Government, up by nearly 30% on last year’s margin. It shows how the segue from old, fossil fuel powered power stations to a system based on renewables and increased flexibility is taking place without the need for large capacity surpluses, which represent wasted investment.

“While the costs are slightly higher this year, they account for just 0.3% of the average electricity bill, an unavoidable cost as the UK faces up to the task of replacing huge amounts of ageing infrastructure over the next decade.”