The darkening of the skies is expected to wipe out between 300 megawatts and 1,100MW of solar power, just as the fifth heatwave of the summer raises demand for electricity to run air conditioning, fans and refrigeration systems.<\/p>\n
The National Energy<\/a> System Operator (Neso) had first anticipated a shortfall of more than 1,700MW, according to a warning on Tuesday night, about the equivalent capacity of a solar farm the size of 8,500 football pitches. Under a second market notice issued on Wednesday morning, it said the shortfall remained about 1,200MW.<\/p>\n A spokesperson described the warning notice as a \u201croutine tool\u201d that means it is asking the energy market to make any additional capacity generators may have available. It added that the notice was a \u201cprecautionary measure to the market\u201d because of the solar eclipse and there was \u201cno risk to customer electricity supplies\u201d.<\/p>\n To resolve the shortfall, Neso is expected to make lucrative payments to energy generators to help fill the gap, which will be covered through consumer energy bills.<\/p>\n The looming eclipse has caused electricity market prices to climb to highs last seen during the heatwave in late June, according to market analysts at LCP Delta, a consultancy and data provider.<\/p>\n The price of electricity for Wednesday evening rose to more than \u00a3211.40 per megawatt-hour at 7pm, its highest level since 30 June. If market prices remains elevated through the day, this could lead to higher prices offered to gas power plants to fill the shortfall in electricity supplies during the eclipse.<\/p>\n The power supply squeeze has prompted Britain\u2019s biggest household electricity supplier, Octopus Energy, to encourage customers to avoid running washing machines and dishwashers<\/a> between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday to help save electricity.<\/p>\n
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