ROSS CLARK: Must we really wait for the chaos of a national blackout before accepting how dangerous this pursuit of Net Zero is?
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During the June heatwave, Britain came perilously close to a blackout when low power levels in the electricity grid left the National Energy System Operator (NESO) scrambling to secure an emergency supply from the Continent.
We were lucky that Europe had energy to spare. The only good thing to emerge from this narrow escape is mounting scrutiny of NESO and the dash for wind and solar energy.
Evidence the electricity system is close to breakdown mounts week by week. Yet the operator refuses to admit there is a problem. So, this external inquiry by Deloitte is welcome.
Yet what Deloitte won't probe is the true reason we are saddled with such a volatile grid: our blind pursuit of Net Zero.
It would always have taken time and huge sums of money to switch from a system developed around reliable coal-fired and nuclear generators to one based on thousands of intermittent wind and solar generators.
Pictured: The Barrow Offshore Wind Farm off the North West Coast of England
For years, governments have incentivised wind and solar farm developers to build as quickly as they could. Yet redevelopment of the grid itself still lags behind.
Until it catches up, the sums lavished on turbine operators to keep their blades idle – so as not to overwhelm the system – will be borne by us all through punishing energy bills and taxes.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham wants to turn Britain into an AI powerhouse, which will be extremely energy-intensive.
It's hard to see how the country's fragile power system will cope.
Must we really wait for the chaos of a national blackout before accepting how dangerous this pursuit of Net Zero is?
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