ESO puts back-up coal plants to work for first time this winter

Two coal units were put into action on Tuesday (7 March) evening for the first time as part of National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO)’s winter contingency plans.

The two 400MW units at EDF’s West Burton A site in Nottinghamshire had been ordered to warm up on Monday amid tight supply margins between 4.30pm and 8.30pm on Tuesday evening.

Drax was also asked to ready two 570MW assets at its power station in North Yorkshire but they were not ultimately needed.

The ESO had also issued an Electricity Margin Notice for the same period – alerting the energy market of the need for more generation – but this too was cancelled. The same was true of an indication that the demand flexibility service might be required.

The use of the coal plants rather than demand response was crticised by Octopus Energy.

Alex Schoch, the retailer’s head of flexibility, said: “The grid has shown incredible initiative by moving on demand flexibility so quickly. But its commitment to keeping one foot in the past and sticking with the same polluting coal power plants that we have had for decades is sending mixed signals.

“National Grid’s new demand flexibility service is already offering a cheaper, more practical and sustainable solution to peaks in energy demand, while putting millions of pounds back into people’s pockets that would otherwise be paid to fossil fuel companies. Even during this cold snap, households can deliver the flexibility that’s needed, get paid for it and reduce costs for everyone.”

Despite the ESO issuing warnings on several previous occasions, the coal contingency plants had never been required before, with the notices being recalled following an improvement in supply margins.

The contracts with Drax and EDF to keep their coal units on standby expire at the end of this month.