Britain Faces Its First Winter Without Coal Backup, but is Confident Due to Massive HVDC Low-Carbon Interconnects

Britain is poised to face its first winter without coal-fired backup power, but confidence is high thanks to the significant increase in HVDC (high-voltage direct current) low-carbon interconnects. The National Grid has announced that despite the challenges, the UK is well-prepared to maintain a steady power supply through increased reliance on imported electricity.

According to the National Grid’s Electricity System Operator (ESO), while the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station marks a notable transition, the UK’s capacity to import power through subsea cables is a game-changer. These interconnectors, linking the UK to several European countries, are expected to provide a robust backup, ensuring energy security even during periods of adverse weather conditions.

### Interconnectors: A Reliable Solution

Interconnectors, the high-voltage cables that allow for the exchange of electricity between countries, are pivotal in this strategy. The UK has significantly bolstered its energy security by increasing its interconnector capacity, which now includes links to France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Norway. These interconnections have added 6.6GW to the UK’s power grid, playing a crucial role in preventing potential blackouts.

In the previous year alone, these imports provided the UK with nearly 10% of its total electricity, with over half coming from France. This arrangement has not only ensured a steady power supply but also highlighted the efficiency of using renewable and low-carbon sources from neighboring countries.

### Enhancing Energy Security

Mel Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate team leader, praised the effectiveness of these interconnectors, stating, “It’s fantastic to see that sharing renewable electricity with countries like Denmark is working so well. Imagine how much more secure our supply would be if we shared more with other nations, had more storage on the grid, and brought more offshore wind online.”

The ESO report underscores this sentiment, indicating that the UK’s operational surplus is sufficient to meet the expected variations in demand, wind, and outages throughout the winter. This assurance is bolstered by the additional 5.6GW of spare capacity in the grid, largely facilitated by the interconnectors.

### Future Prospects and Investments

The UK is not just stopping at the current interconnector projects. New cables, such as LionLink (to Holland) and Tarchon (to Germany), are in the planning stages, promising to add even more capacity. The ambitious Xlinks project, which aims to connect the UK to Morocco with four 2,500-mile cables from the Sahara desert’s solar and wind farms, exemplifies the forward-thinking approach to energy security.

Additionally, the Government’s target of up to 50GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with Labour’s proposal pushing for 55GW, is set to transform the UK’s energy landscape. However, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has called for substantial investment in British manufacturing facilities to meet these targets, emphasizing the need for accelerated offshore wind farm installation.

How well defended are those interconnects in the face of Russian bellicosity?… I am not sure I share this confidence.

Only the Torygraph could couch the lack of a dirty fuel in the energy mix negatively.