Ofgem issues stark warning as UK to face ‘challenging’ winter over power shortage fears

INA-sources
 
There is a "significant risk" that Britain may face gas shortages this winter, according to the Government's energy regulator Ofgem.
 
 
Ofgem issues stark warning as UK to face ‘challenging’ winter over power shortage fears
There is a "significant risk" that Britain may face gas shortages this winter, according to the Government's energy regulator Ofgem.
 
Ofgem has reported that Britain may face a “gas supply emergency” in the upcoming months due to the current Russia-Ukraine war and the current energy crisis in Europe. Britain currently relies on gas power plants to supply the majority of its electricity.
 
Ofgem said it predicted “this winter to be more challenging than last year” and was currently taking “reasonable regulatory steps to mitigate and reduce the risks”.
 
Russia has stopped most of its gas supplies to Europe in retaliation over trade sanctions that were handed out due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
 
Many countries in Europe are currently facing an energy crisis which may result in shortages this winter, which has raised fears that Britain may not be able to import enough gas supplies for the country.
 
Gas prices have fallen since they were significantly high over the summer, but prices have risen again after two gas pipelines connecting Russia to Europe were sabotaged.
 
National Grid, the organisation responsible for distributing energy and gas, has confirmed that they have put out a tender to increase gas supplies to help manage disruption if Russia completely cuts off gas to Europe.
 
The Head of National Control at National Grid, Craig James told industry last month to “secure the network across a series of fault potentials or supply conditions, there's a requirement to take out extra operating margins of gas".
 
The organisation is set to publish its forecast on electricity and gas supplies over the winter, and those in the energy industry are currently testing to see how their organisations would cope if there was a gas shortage.
 
“It’s all being taken very seriously,” said one industry source
 
Source:  The Express