Low Energy Demand due to Coronavirus lockdown could lead to blackouts

As a result, the National Grid has requested a change to the Electricity System Operator Grid Code to help it keep the lights on. 

In its urgent request to Ofgem, it warned of “a significant risk of disruption to security of supply” if the “last resort” powers to order plant disconnections were not granted.

National Grid must keep supply and demand balanced to ensure stable voltage and frequency on the network. When there is an imbalance the network can become unstable, leading to blackouts.

In its proposal, the ESO said that it believes that the modification is urgent due to the upcoming bank holiday weekend, where it believes that exceptionally low demand for energy could challenge the network and risk blackouts. 

Ofgem, who oversees the ESO, announced that it agrees with the ESO that its proposal is urgent, although it was quick to state that this has no bearing on its final decision.

Ofgem’s decision was not unanimous, however, with one member of the panel voting against the proposal being classified as urgent, stating that the ESO has unlimited ability to issue emergency instructions already and that an urgent modification was “an improper route to follow when an enduring solution should be sought in the first instance”.

“If utilized this approach would give additional options to our control room engineers, as well as being a more cost efficient and secure outcome for consumers too,” a National Grid spokesman said.

Reducing output could help balance the grid but it’s likely to prove costly in financial terms. 

According to industry sources, a contract requiring EDG to reduce output at the power plant could cost the National Grid a whopping £50 million.

“No one should be concerned about their electricity supply, we have comprehensive plans in place to ensure we safely and securely manage the system at all times - including through this unprecedented period,” the National Grid spokesman said.

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