Britain’s electricity network operator has again appealed for increased power generation as the country endures a heatwave, warning of potential supply constraints on Friday evening.
The National Energy System Operator (Neso), responsible for balancing electricity supply and demand, issued an “electricity margin notice” for between 7pm and 10pm.
The body is seeking an additional 700 megawatts (MW) of power generation to act as a buffer against an anticipated shortfall in electricity margins.
This marks the second such request this week, following a similar appeal made ahead of Wednesday.
However, the grid operator subsequently withdrew its Wednesday warning shortly after 2pm, signalling confidence in the evening’s power supply levels.
Britain continues to experience sweltering temperatures, with rare red weather warnings continuing into Friday.
The Met Office said temperatures had reached 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday, provisionally making it the UK’s hottest June day on record.
A spokesman for Neso said its forecasts were showing “tight margins on the electricity system” for Friday evening.
“This is due to the impact of extremely high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the continent,” it said.
The spokesman said the notice was “a routine tool” and that it “does not mean electricity supply is at risk”.
Extreme heat can put pressure on the electricity system by making processes less efficient and creating operating restrictions, including nuclear power plants, gas stations and water cooling systems.
It also means people are using more electricity for fans and air conditioning to keep cool.
Neso paid about £11 million on Tuesday to make sure the amount of gas going into the grid met the amount being withdrawn by consumers, according to analysis by Kraken, an AI grid platform spun out of Octopus Energy.
This was more than five times the daily average, it said.
The record for the hottest June day could be smashed again, as the Met Office forecasts an “exceptional spell of hot and humid weather” to continue in the southeast.
A high of 40C is forecast in parts of Norfolk this afternoon, which would exceed yesterday’s record-breaking 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset.
The rare red warning for extreme heat is in place until 9pm for London & South East England and the East of England.
According to the Met Office, the heat will be accompanied by “high humidity, exacerbating the potential for discomfort and health impacts”.
