As many as 6 million British households could face rolling blackouts if the energy crisis worsens, according to Sky News. However, the country’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy urged Britons not to worry as the government is preparing for “any scenario”.
The rolling blackouts could affect around 6 million British households this winter if the crisis in the European energy market worsens further, reports Sky News.
The British government has been warned that in a worst-case scenario, the country could impose restrictions on the use of gas in industry, including gas-fired power stations. This, in turn, would lead to power shortages, forcing 6 million homes to ration power supply during morning and evening peak hours. The rolling blackouts could last more than a month.
According to the channel, such a situation may arise if the conflict in Ukraine continues and Europe faces gas shortages. At the same time, the worst-case scenario, which the UK government is considering, envisages a complete cessation of Russian gas supplies to the EU.
According to a UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson, the country “has no problem with gas or electricity supplies and the government is fully prepared for any scenario, even the extreme and unlikely ones.
“Thanks to a massive £90 billion investment in renewables over the past decade, we have one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world and, unlike Europe, we are not dependent on Russian energy imports,” the ministry assured.
The government has also asked the owners of the three remaining carbon power stations in the UK – Drax, Ratcliffe and West Burton – not to shut them down, Kwasi Kwarteng has said. As Sky News recalls, these power stations were previously expected to close in September this year, in line with plans to phase out the use of coal by 2024 to reduce atmospheric emissions.
“While there is no supply shortage, we may need to draw on the remaining coal-fired power plants to provide additional back-up power for the coming winter if needed,” said a ministry official who wished to remain anonymous.
However, the politician reiterated London’s “firm” intention to end the use of coal power by October 2024.
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