The electricity network manager finally indicated that it did not need it, ensuring that it had enough capacity to meet demand.
The United Kingdom, affected for several days by an intense cold wave with temperatures of -10° C, heated its coal-fired power stations on Monday to ensure that it did not run out of electricity. The capacities were finally sufficient, indicated the manager of the electricity network.
The company had asked the energy company Drax in advance to heat two production units at its power plant in Yorkshire, in the north of England, to “to give confidence to the public that the energy supply is assuredaccording to a statement from National Grid ESO.
The British government has asked three energy companies to keep coal-fired power stations open this winter, while maintaining its objective of completely eliminating this fuel in electricity production by 2024.
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In addition to the Drax power plant, two other coal-fired production sites are thus ready to start: West Burton A, of the French electrician EDF, in the north of England, and that of Ratcliffe (center) of the German Uniper. In all, the three operators could supply around 600,000 homes if needed.
The network manager had published its projections for the winter in early October, in which it was optimistic about its ability to supply the country but warned that in an extreme scenario, occasional power cuts could be necessary to relieve the system.
Like other countries in Europe, users are encouraged to reduce their consumption and the government launched a sobriety campaign at the end of November to reduce demand.
The United Kingdom produces about half of its electricity with gas, but the country is less dependent than others in Europe on imports from Russia: the fuel comes mainly from Norway and from its own resources in the North Sea.
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