Didcot Fire Puts The Squeeze On Energy Supplies

The huge fire which swept through Didcot Power Station has increased the likelihood of an energy supply crisis this winter, according to analysts.

Half of the gas-fuelled plant - which supplies a million homes - will remain out of action indefinitely putting further pressure on the UK's already squeezed electricity network.

The blaze is the third fire at a UK power station this year following similar fires at the Ironbridge plant in February and at Ferrybridge in July.

Together with spine cracking problems at Heysham and Hartlepool nuclear power stations, some 4.3 gigawatts (seven percent) of the UK's conventional and nuclear energy plant has been taken offline.

Half of the Didcot power plant will remain out of action indefinitely

The aftermath of the fire is revealed in daylight

The UK usually has enough energy reserves to absorb ten unexpected events, but most of these reserves have already been used.

Peter Atherton, Head of Utilities Research at Liberum Capital said: "The loss of this plant would not normally be a cause for concern but so far this year we've used two thirds of our reserve capacity.

"UK energy policy has also engineered historically low reserves as we head into winter and we've seen three unexpected events before the clocks go back, which in itself increases demand enormously at peak times.

Cracks were discovered at the Heysham nuclear power plant this year

"Another one or two events such as the fire at Didcot could cause a serious security of supply event and a probable surge in wholesale prices.

"The odds are still that the UK will escape a security of supply crunch this winter, but the mere fact a security of supply crisis is a material possibility is in itself a sign of a huge policy failure in our view."

There is also more energy capacity temporarily offline due to planned maintenance or statutory outages. Meanwhile, grid operator National Grid has announced measures to keep the lights on, including a scheme which pays businesses to reduce electricity use.

Fire broke out at the Ferrybridge power station in July

Officials at RWE npower, who own the Didcot site, say it is too early to estimate how long the unit will be offline, though pictures of the site reveal substantial damage was done to two plant cooling towers. 

"The fire was brought under control during the night and the fire brigade will remain on site during Monday morning for a handover of the cooling towers back to the local RWE team," the company said.

A spokesman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change said: "The lights will not go out this winter.

"Up and down the country there are power stations on standby that can start pumping out power when needed, and the Government has given National Grid the extra powers it needs to ensure there is enough electricity to keep the lights on."

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