THE government’s net zero goals could lead to higher energy bills and increased risks of blackouts, warns a leaked report.
The National Grid are reportedly “flying blind” as it’s unable to predict supply and demand due to the rise in green energy suppliers.
The National Grid is reportedly unable to accurately predict supply and demand Credit: EPA
A confidential report for the National Energy System Operator (Neso) revealed that it cannot accurately predict supply and demand, reports The Times.
A whistleblower disclosed the report to the paper – which reportedly found that wind farms, solar panels and batteries, do not have to engage with Neso.
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But Neso insisted the report was “forward looking” and that the UK’s energy network was “one of the most reliable in the world”, while the government said they are “very confident” in the UK’s supply.
If green energy suppliers do not have to engage with Neso, this means it is unable to keep the energy network stable, leaving the country at a greater risk of high electricity bills and blackouts.
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Miatta Fahnbulleh, the new Energy Secretary, has called for Britain to race towards Net Zero by 2034 Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Claire Coutinho has raised concerns with the new energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh Credit: The Times
Neso may have to pay more to manage its services at short notice if they cannot predict demand, which would lead to higher costs for consumers.
Last month, the National Grid breached five safety limits during heatwave due to green energy making it difficult to balance demand.
On June 23, the electricity grid’s security system was breached, along with five operational safety constraints.
Ofgem has since announced an investigation into the June 23 incident.
Neso commissioned the report to Cornwall Insight, an energy consultancy group, which revealed issues with monitoring and forecasting the energy network.
The rise of green energy means the control room has “reduced visibility of the capacity which is supplying and taking power from the GB network”.
The leaked report estimated that by 2030, the amount of invisible energy could reach 7.7GW – the equivalent to the output of two big nuclear power stations.
One control room whistleblower said that these issues have been know to engineers for two years, and yet they feel they are have not been listened to.
They claimed Neso was “flying blind, every minute of every day. We are risking total blackout.”
They added: “We don’t have an opinion on net zero, we just want the system to be safe, but the execs are too scared politically to say renewables are making the system unsafe.
“It will get worse week by week because we are connecting more things that we cannot model.”
Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary, has raised the concerns of whistleblowers to the new energy secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh about the increasingly complex electricity system.
She wrote to the Fahnbulleh to demand answers about the issues that the push for net zero could cause.
Fahnbulleh has previously called for Britain to race towards Net Zero by 2034 and would rely on spending taxpayers’ cash on expensive wind farms and eco-energy grids.
A Neso spokesman told The Times that Britain had “one of the most reliable electricity systems in the world” and described Cornwall Insight’s report as a “forward-looking” assessment of risks that could become more significant during the 2030s unless addressed.
A programme of work to implement the recommendations was under way, according to the spokesman.
He said the findings had been shared with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem and a Neso board committee.
The government said: “Neso is responsible for planning and delivering the energy system now, and into the future.
“As part of that, it plans for emerging challenges to ensure Britain continues to benefit from a secure energy system.
“We are very confident in our security of supply arrangements, and that Neso have the tools they need to manage the system.”
New Energy Secretary wants Britain to hit Net Zero
ANDY Burnham’s new Energy Secretary called for Britain to race towards Net Zero by 2034 – going even further than eco-zealot Ed Miliband ever planned to.
Miatta Fahnbulleh in 2020 said any Left-wing Government worth its salt should slash carbon emissions within ten to 15 years rather than the current 2050 timeline.
Ms Fahnbulleh, a protegee of Mr Miliband, said the move would rely on spending taxpayers’ cash on expensive wind farms and eco-energy grids.
In an article for Foreign Affairs magazine in 2020, Ms Fahnbulleh wrote: “The first step would be a global Green New Deal: a massive mobilization of resources to decarbonize and at the same time create millions of jobs and lift living standards.
“The goal should be net-zero carbon emissions within ten to 15 years, which will require governments to make significant investments in green infrastructure.”
Shadow Energy secretary Claire Coutinho told The Jattvibe what Britain needs is drilling in the North Sea and axing carbon taxes to save British industry.
Ms Coutinho said: “It is also completely naive to suggest we can borrow huge amounts without paying any price for it, this is exactly why bond yields have been blowing up since Andy Burnham’s speech yesterday.”
Reform UK Richard Tice also told The Jattvibe his party would scrap the “deranged obsession” with Net Zero and deliver cheaper energy for hard-up Brits.
He said: “Here we go again. Different minister, same Net Stupid madness. Fast-tracking Net Zero means crushing British business, killing jobs and leaving our grid reliant on foreign imports, all the while China builds coal plants by the day.”
