The lack of wind in Europe has collapsed wind generation and the United Kingdom, like other countries in the region, has had to use more gas and import more electricity. In this context, the British regulator finally approved the construction of new cable networks from EU countries.
British regulator Ofgem has backed the LionLink and Nautilus interconnector cable projects, which will connect the British grid to the Netherlands and Belgium. This will allow electricity to be imported from French wind farms and nuclear power plants. The capacity of two cable lines will be 3.2 GW.
Also in the United Kingdom they plan to connect with Norway and receive hydroelectric energy.
The Telegraph reports on the British regulator’s decision. The publication notes that the decision was made despite concerns about the need to build additional powerful substations and cable systems on the North Sea coast.
Evidently, the trigger was the calm in Europe that began on November 4. Last week, for example, in the United Kingdom the share of wind generation fell sharply to 7.6% and still does not exceed 23%. But the gas shot up to 60%. November 14, according to National Grid: Live, it is 50%. At the same time, there is no longer any coal generation in the UK.
The lack of wind caused the wholesale price of electricity in Foggy Albion to rise to 180 pounds per MWh ($228), and today it stands at 120 pounds ($152). Prices are supported by the rather high cost of gas, which is still more than double the pre-crisis level.
