Energy analyst warns Britain will need luck to keep lights on this winter

Energy consultant Kathryn Porter cautioned that Britain’s shift toward wind and solar, together with the closure of conventional power stations, has left the grid unable to satisfy demand without foreign electricity imports. She highlighted that a series of external shocks - the war in Iran, depleted gas stocks and a Norwegian hydro shortage - compound the risk, making the country dependent on sheer luck to avoid price spikes or blackouts.

The warning follows Ofgem’s decision to raise the energy price cap by £60 in October, prompting concerns over household bills. Shadow energy minister Andrew Bowie urged a restart of North Sea drilling, citing the Jackdaw gas field as a potential relief. Meanwhile, a National Audit Office analysis warned that postponements in a £70 billion grid modernization could cost consumers an additional £1.9 billion annually, while neighboring nations may restrict electricity exports to protect their own markets.