Warnig of future UK power shortage

Warnig of future UK power shortage

Power supplies will be stretched over the next decade according to a new report.


There is a growing risk of power shortages over the next few years, according to a report commissioned for the prime minister.

The Royal Academy of Engineering said the closure of older power plants and the slow progress in building news ones was likely to stretch the system "close to its limits".

Supply is expected to be most under strain during the winter of 2014-15.

Last week the National Grid warned of a higher risk of blackouts this winter.

The new study was commissioned by the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology to find out how stretched power supplies will be during this decade.

"Although the electricity supply is expected to be sufficient to cover predicted levels of demand, it is likely to stretch the system close to its limits, notably during the winter of 2014-15," the report said.

Reacting to the report, Business Minister Michael Fallon said: "We're going to make sure there's a proper reserve that we have enough power in future years and we're investing already now in a whole new generation of power stations - new gas stations and new nuclear stations that you're going to hear about very shortly."

Two years ago the UK had a buffer between energy supply and demand of 16%, but this winter that will fall to 5% and it could hit 2% by 2015, according to the National Grid and the energy regulator, OFGEM.