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 an overall shortfall of more than 1,700MW of electricity when compared with the grid\u2019s peak evening demand, according to a warning on Tuesday night, or 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 meant it was asking the energy market to make any additional capacity the generators might have available. It added that the margin 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 Such notices are relatively common in winter when energy demand is higher, but it is the first time that supply warnings have been issued in summer because of the frequent heatwaves, according to Jess Ralston, the head of energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a thinktank. The soaring temperatures across Europe are being made worse and more common by climate change, she added.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only way to bring our climate back into balance is to reach net zero emissions, including rolling out more renewables and upgrading the grid after decades of under investment,\u201d Ralston said.<\/p>\n Europe\u2019s electricity supply squeeze could become tighter as fresh weather forecasts indicate that above-normal heat may persist across Europe into September, according to forecasters at Amperon.<\/p>\n The analysts warned that already more than 11 gigawatts of European nuclear capacity was currently offline, or operating at reduced output, because of low water levels in rivers used to cool nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, low water levels are complicating coal deliveries, gas plants are approaching the September maintenance season after a demanding summer, and high temperatures are forcing some transmission lines to operate below full capacity,\u201d the forecasters said.<\/p>\n To resolve Wednesday\u2019s 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
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