Electricity Capacity Warning

The UK Government is being urged to re-consider the planned closure of Longannet Power Station in Fife.

It's after the National Grid warned that the amount of spare electricity in the system will fall to just 1.2% this winter. That's the lowest level for a decade and could mean the lights will go out.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing says the situation shows complacency by the UK Government and added that next year the margins could be under even greater pressure if Longannet is forced to close prematurely.

Mr Ewing said: “These figures show that the national grid is becoming even harder pressed to keep the lights on this winter.

“Thermal energy is a source of generation which has a significant impact on grid capacity margins and can enhance energy security.

“At a time when the UK Government is presiding over a period of extremely narrow generation capacity margins, it has chosen not to intervene regarding the unfair transmission charges which are threatening the future of thermal generation in Scotland.

“Given the need to address shrinking capacity margins it makes no sense to cancel planned onshore wind developments, as the UK government is doing through the removal of financial support. The situation of narrowing capacity margins will only be exacerbated if Longannet closes prematurely.

“It is vital, therefore, that all possible options for averting the premature closure of the Longannet site are explored, such as action to address discriminatory transmission charges. The Scottish Government has raised these concerns at the highest level in the UK Government and is engaging all relevant authorities and agencies alongside Scottish Power to secure the best possible outcomes for those affected throughout the local economy and further afield by the uncertainty of the site.”