From the DT.,..
"Gas-powered plants across the UK have been ordered to fire up production as soaring temperatures trigger a slump in solar energy.
The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a rare summer power supply warning overnight as the country braces for temperatures near 40C on Wednesday and Thursday.
Gas plants have been urged to ramp up output to deal with high levels of demand expected on Wednesday night as homes and offices turn up the air conditioning to endure the heatwave.
The notice comes as soaring temperatures make Britain’s solar farms less efficient, putting further strain on the power grid. Solar panel efficiency typically drops by 0.3pc to 0.5pc for every degree that a panel’s temperature rises above 25C.
Noemie Baud, from energy consultancy Montel, said: “Higher demand for air conditioning and cooling systems is contributing to the increase [in power demand], while lower outputs from solar and gas generation means more conventional generation is required to meet demand, pushing up prices.”
Data from the UK’s grid network showed gas generation jumped from around eight gigawatts at 12pm on Tuesday, to more than 17 gigawatts overnight.
More than half of Britain’s power needs were being supplied by gas on Wednesday morning, with wind generating around 12pc and solar less than
10pc.
“Our forecasts are showing tight margins on the electricity system for tomorrow evening,” Neso said on Tuesday night. “This is due to the impact of extremely high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the Continent and low wind.” Energy shortfall
Britain was facing a 1.9 gigawatt shortfall in its “margin” for Wednesday night – the buffer between available power generation and total consumer demand – according to an alert at 9pm on Tuesday from Elexon, the company that manages the electricity trades that keep Britain’s lights on.
The alert signals to Britain’s gas power plants and other suppliers to start generating more energy to meet the expected demand and is not a sign that blackouts are imminent.
A spokesman for Neso said: “We are asking market participants to make any additional generation capacity they may have available.
“The Electricity Margin Notice does not mean electricity supply is at risk.”
Such warnings are usually issued during winter when demand for energy is at its highest. However, households and businesses are expected to ramp up power usage for air conditioning and other means of keeping cool, after the Met Office issued a red weather warning.
Britain’s energy shortage has been compounded by relatively low wind generation across the country and continental Europe.
Meanwhile, imports of French energy have fallen by 48pc since Sunday. France has been forced to switch off a nuclear power station as high river temperatures mean the water is too warm to safely cool reactors.
In a worrying sign for consumers, energy market intelligence firm Montel said the decline in renewable efficiency had pushed up wholesale power prices.
Prices climbed to £248.39 per megawatt hour at the evening peak on Tuesday, an increase of more than 75pc compared with the same time a week earlier."