GREAT BRITAIN — The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a notice on Thursday requesting additional electricity from generators for Friday evening. The grid operator stated that its forecasts indicated "tight margins on the electricity system" for the specified evening. Neso attributed the projected tight margins to "the impact of extremely high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the continent." Despite the call for extra generation, Neso stated that electricity supply was not at risk and a widespread blackout was not imminent.

The Thursday notice followed a market warning issued by Neso on Tuesday night. That earlier warning also called for backup power in anticipation of a rise in demand on Wednesday evening. Neso subsequently paid approximately £10 million for the additional electricity supplied on Wednesday evening, with most of this additional power coming from gas power plants. During this period, several gas power plants located in the UK reduced their output due to high temperatures. Additionally, four nuclear power plants in France reported unplanned outages because nearby river water temperatures rose to levels too high to effectively cool the reactors.

Why It Matters

High temperatures can pose operational challenges to electricity grids across Great Britain and continental Europe. Neso requested additional power on consecutive evenings and spent funds on backup electricity. The reduction in output from some gas power plants in the UK and the unplanned outages at French nuclear facilities show how environmental factors can impact energy generation capacity.