Poltics
By CHRIS POLLARD
Published: | Updated:
Sad weather may accept spirits down – nevertheless it is also putting a damper on the UK’s power output.
The amount of wind and solar vitality generated has fallen significantly over the past two weeks as a consequence of a high-stress weather arrangement.
And the calm, dark skies are anticipated to continue, according to the Met Office, as one high-stress arrangement is replaced by another.
This phenomenon is known as a ‘Dunkelflaute’, which comes from the German phrases for ‘darkness’ and ‘weak wind’.
Met Office forecaster Liam Eslick said: ‘High stress means air is sinking and thus winds are normally very gentle.
Britain’s lately miserable weather has put a damper on the UK’s power output
A worker in the National Grid control room in Sindlesham, Berkshire as the Electrical energy Map Operator (ESO) transitions into the National Energy Map Operator (NESO)
Of us search for out at fog from the Horizon 22 viewing platform at Bishopsgate in London on Friday
‘This is why it has also been cloudy as there has been no wind to mix or shift the cloud, so we have been seeing this blanket of grey since the start of November.’
Data from Elexon, which runs Britain’s wholesale electrical energy market, reveals how dire renewable vitality production has transform.
Three weeks ago, on October 20, wind was producing 60.8 per cent of Britain’s power – 19.2 gigawatts (GW) – in the route of the 8am to 9am bustle.
That tumbled to moral three per cent (1.1GW) in the route of the same time slot on Tuesday last week.
In fact, wind generated moral 2.8 per cent of Britain’s power (1GW) that day between 10am and 11am – its poorest performance of the year.
Solar power production was also down over the past week, barely managing to manufacture three per cent of the nation’s vitality.
On average, wind has supplied nearly a third of the UK’s power over the past year, while solar produces around five per cent.
The O2 on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London in the miserable conditions on Friday
Misty weather at Minster-on-Sea in Kent on Thursday as the dreary conditions continue
Another misty day in London on Wednesday as a woman walks alongside the River Thames
The amount of wind and solar vitality generated has fallen significantly over the past two weeks as a consequence of a high-stress weather arrangement. Pictured: an vitality dashboard comparison
The National Energy Map Operator (NESO), previously known as the National Grid, said the lull was nothing to panic about, as it has the largest pre-iciness surplus of power for five years.
This is as a consequence of a development in battery storage capacity and a better network of zero carbon sources, plus easy access to foreign imports. This will extra than offset seasonal reductions and the recent closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, the UK’s last coal-fired power station, NESO claims.
A spokesman said: ‘Whereas weather patterns can affect wind generation, the impact on vitality costs is mitigated by the various vitality sources and strategic planning NESO has in place.’ A unusual high-stress front strikes south today.
