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mobbsey
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 1035
Location: Banbury
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 Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject: IF&P News: French power shortages will impact UK |
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Whilst people are promoting a European grid to carry solar power from North Africa, few realise that there's actually a large measure of inter-connection already across European states -- and these connections are further complicated by the recent consolidation of ownership to just a few large corporations. As liberalisation has run down the standards of the power industry across Europe this now complicates matters as different government struggle to try and resolve the electricity gap using less coal (allegedly??!) -- and the problems are going to arise long before any significant CSP developments could be completed to make-up the shortfall.
We're in for a bumpy ride -- better start going to some lifestyle resilience courses ASAP! (coincidentally, I'm running one this weekend -- http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14544 )
P.
| Quote: | http://www.ifandp.com/article/006151.html
M&C Energy Group: French power shortages will impact UK
Industrial Fuels and Power News, July 22nd 2010
Reports that France will see a power shortfall by as soon as 2013 will put greater pressure on the UK’s dwindling supply and force up prices – that’s according to the UK’s largest energy consultancy, M&C Energy Group.
France is facing a growing dependency on electricity imports as demand outpaces supply, particularly at peak times.
David Hunter, Energy Analyst from M&C Energy Group, believes that energy will become a scarce commodity resulting in increased prices and real risks of blackouts.
Mr Hunter explains: “At a time when the UK is facing its own looming energy gap, the news that our neighbours across the channel are likely to demand imported power from us is likely to both drive up peak prices and tighten our own supply margins further. The UK market is linked to the continent’s via interconnectors, and so that extra power will most likely go to the highest bidder.
“The irony is that French electricity giant EDF is one of the UK’s major energy providers – but is owned by the French government. The French taxpayer also owns 35% of Gaz de France (GDF), which is looking to take over International Power, the operator of several UK power stations. The UK could have little say in where energy produced here will go. Only in May the OFT announced a stock-take of the UK’s economic infrastructure – they will have their work cut out to keep up with the rate of change and resulting implications.
“Earlier this year the UK National Grid announced a series of Gas Balancing Alerts demonstrating the precarious position of the UK’s energy market. Our power stations are old and overdue for replacement.
“The challenge for the new government is to reduce dependency on imports however, while there is much talk, there seems to be little progress. In fact it has been announced that they are reconsulting on the UK’s energy policy with an announcement not due until the autumn – while our nuclear policy is not expected to be ratified until April 2011.
“With nuclear new build, reshaping the markets to deliver investment, a robust planning system and cleaning up fossil fuel power to be considered, the real issue is that GBP200bn of investment needs to be found in the next decade to secure Britain’s energy future. The state of the public finances means that the funding will have to come largely from the private sector and it is likely that we will be competing with France for this investment.”
M&C Energy Group is calling on the government to accelerate preventative action to avoid an energy crisis and protect the UK’s national energy interest. |
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kenneal
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
Posts: 3607
Location: Newbury, Berkshire
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 2:38 am Post subject: |
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If it came to a crunch in electricity supply here or it going to the continent the government could simply cut the cable to the continent. The energy suppliers would then only be able to supply the UK, which they would do to continue making money. The profits might end up in France, but we would have the lecky.
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It is very, very, very serious indeed. This is the big one!" Professor Tim Lang, APPGOPO, 25/03/08 |
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adam2
Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 2241
Location: London UK
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 8:10 am Post subject: |
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| kenneal wrote: | | If it came to a crunch in electricity supply here or it going to the continent the government could simply cut the cable to the continent. The energy suppliers would then only be able to supply the UK, which they would do to continue making money. The profits might end up in France, but we would have the lecky. |
True, but remember that we import a lot of electricity from France at present.
We could face serious electricity shortages if the French simply stopped exporting power to us, without us exporting to them.
Any exports from us to them would of course make the position worse, I presume that the EU, EDF, and the french government will have some rule whereby power produced in the UK belongs to all the EU, but French power remains French property !
If power shortages appear likely in France, then the rapid building of natural gas burning power stations appears likely, with consequent price increases and increased risk of gas shortages.
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"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more" |
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adam2
Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 2241
Location: London UK
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:35 am Post subject: |
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As posted above, at present we import a lot of power from France.
The exact figure in near real time is here
http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Data/Realtime/Frequency/Freq60.htm
On the right hand side of the page under "system transfers"
The cross chanel link is designed for 2,000MW and for much of day operates at between 50% and 100% of this, in import mode.
At times we export power, but this is very much less than the imports.
It sometimes suprises me that anti-nuclear nimbies never object to French nukes, despite these being a lot closer to our south coast than many British ones. And supplying a fair bit of our electricity.
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"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more" |
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biffvernon
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 6477
Location: Lincolnshire
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| kenneal wrote: | | If it came to a crunch in electricity supply here or it going to the continent the government could simply cut the cable to the continent. |
Smacks of 'Fog in Channel - Europe Cut Off' syndrome.
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kenneal
Joined: 20 Sep 2006
Posts: 3607
Location: Newbury, Berkshire
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| biffvernon wrote: | | kenneal wrote: | | If it came to a crunch in electricity supply here or it going to the continent the government could simply cut the cable to the continent. |
Smacks of 'Fog in Channel - Europe Cut Off' syndrome. |
And you think that if the situation were reversed the French wouldn't do the same? Just look at the way our continental "brothers and sisters" blockade Calais and other Channel ports when they want to make a point about a wage or some other dispute. They don't give a toss about anyone else or their problems.
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It is very, very, very serious indeed. This is the big one!" Professor Tim Lang, APPGOPO, 25/03/08 |
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syberberg
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 992
Location: The People's Republic of West Yorkshire
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:37 am Post subject: |
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I thought there was something in the contracts to the effect of domestic supply first and only the surplus is exported?
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"What's the time?" "It's DefCon One." |
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adeano
Joined: 29 Jun 2010
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:51 am Post subject: |
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| kenneal wrote: | | biffvernon wrote: | | kenneal wrote: | | If it came to a crunch in electricity supply here or it going to the continent the government could simply cut the cable to the continent. |
Smacks of 'Fog in Channel - Europe Cut Off' syndrome. |
And you think that if the situation were reversed the French wouldn't do the same? Just look at the way our continental "brothers and sisters" blockade Calais and other Channel ports when they want to make a point about a wage or some other dispute. They don't give a toss about anyone else or their problems. |
Pretty much
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Andy |
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RalphW
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Posts: 1901
Location: Cambridge
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I smell spam. |
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adam2
Joined: 02 Jul 2007
Posts: 2241
Location: London UK
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:35 pm Post subject: |
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| RalphW wrote: | | I smell spam. |
Yes, I have deleted the spam post to which to you refer. |
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