The cold wave makes Britain turn to coal

Electricity crisis

Economy (TT-Bloomberg)

Cold weather is moving across the UK. Therefore, the National Electricity Grid Company has now asked three of the country’s idle coal-fired power plants to be warmed up so they can be commissioned on Monday.

The cold means that demand for electricity and gas is expected to accelerate, and at the same time the weather is relatively windy so wind turbine generation is weak.

Britain is scheduled to phase out coal next year to reduce emissions. But the government has asked coal-fired power stations to be available this winter due to fossil gas shortages. More coal means less gas needed to be used.

The cold is expected to continue in Great Britain until the end of the week.