Fossil fuel power plants are set to be temporarily freed from planned checks on their emissions in a scramble to prevent blackouts as Britain turns back to coal.
Coal and gas stations providing backup supply in 2023 will not have to get reports on their emissions signed off by an independent expert under changes being proposed by Whitehall officials. [bold, links added]
There is growing concern over energy security amid fears Russia will shut off gas supplies to Europe in retaliation for sanctions imposed in response to its war on Ukraine.
The gradual retirement of the UK’s nuclear fleet in coming years as well as problems with France’s nuclear stations are adding to the pressure on energy markets.
Coal-fired plants have already been asked to stay open this winter, while gas quality rules could also be relaxed to allow more from the North Sea into Britain’s pipes.
Under rules from 2019, fossil fuel facilities bidding to take part in National Grid ESO’s market for backup power supply have to declare their carbon emissions in line with limits.
The Government wants to make it compulsory for these declarations to be independently verified — a service expected to be carried out mostly by niche consultants — but there have been delays in getting enough people accredited to do the verification.
Officials are concerned that if independent verification is compulsory, some plants will not be able to qualify to provide backup supplies for the winter of 2023-2024.
Officials now plan to postpone for a year the requirement to have emissions figures verified, meaning plants should be able to take part in the auction for 2023.
It marks the second time the requirement has been delayed.
In consultation papers, officials warned that failure to act could lead to lower competition that could trigger increased prices and “risks to security of supply.”
They added: “We consider this proposal would be a reasonable precaution to take.” The Government believes there is only a “low” risk that plants would falsify their emissions claims.
National Grid’s target for the amount of capacity they need to procure for the 2023-2024 backup market is likely to be “stretching”, the officials said.
Officials also plan to change criteria to make it easier for mothballed power plants to take part in the market.
Britain does not buy much gas directly from Russia but there are concerns about a significant knock-on impact if Russia cuts off supplies to Europe.
Worst-case scenarios modeled in Whitehall indicate that 6m households could face blackouts this winter if that were the case.
National Grid is now developing plans under which potentially millions of households will be paid if they choose to cut their electricity use at peak times, lessening the strain on the system.
Under plans first reported by The Times, National Grid has asked power suppliers to indicate how many of their customers might shift usage out of peak times if they were paid to do so.
It follows trials with Octopus Energy this year.
National Grid said: “Demand shifting has the potential to save consumers money, reduce carbon emissions and offer greater flexibility on the system.”
A spokesperson for the department for business, energy, and industrial strategy said: “The Government is carefully considering respondents’ views and will publish a response setting out the next steps in due course.
“The UK has no issues with either gas or electricity supply and the government is fully prepared for any scenario, even those that are extreme and very unlikely to occur.”
Read more at Daily Telegraph
Bring back Coal and forget those Wind Turbines and Solar Panels bringing harm to the Birds and cluttering up the Landscape