Britain is edging closer and closer to suffering from blackouts as the UK’s energy security faces fresh uncertainty following the dramatic collapse of Norway’s Government over EU green energy directives.
The political crisis erupted when Norway’s centrist party pulled out of the two-party coalition, refusing to accept three EU directives aimed at increasing renewable energy sources and efficiency.
The upheaval marks the first time in 25 years that Norway’s centre-Left Labour Party will govern alone until elections later this year.
The political turmoil raises serious questions about Britain’s growing dependence on Norwegian power imports, with experts warning of potential implications for the UK’s electricity supply security.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband
PA
Both governing parties had previously indicated their desire to renegotiate power deals with Britain and Germany, whilst ending electricity supply arrangements with Denmark.
Norway currently supplies a significant portion of Britain’s power needs through undersea cables crossing the North Sea, accounting for four percent of UK electricity supply last weekend.
The Scandinavian nation’s hydroelectric power facilities provide a stable source of electricity, contrasting sharply with the intermittent nature of solar and wind generation.
This reliability has made Norway a crucial partner for Britain during periods when domestic power supplies diminish.
The interconnector cables have become increasingly vital to Britain’s energy strategy, particularly as Labour’s net zero ambitions under Ed Miliband would require greater reliance on electricity imports to support the transition to renewable energy sources.
Norway’s electricity exports have become increasingly contentious as domestic energy prices soar, sparking a wave of energy nationalism.
Pylons
GETTY
Critics argue that undersea interconnector cables are driving prices higher, pointing to dramatic price fluctuations in southern Norway.
December saw prices spike almost 20-fold in just one week when low wind output in Germany triggered a surge in electricity exports.
The impact of international connections was starkly demonstrated in 2022, when the opening of interconnectors to Britain and Germany caused prices in southern Norway to increase tenfold.
With national elections scheduled for September, the controversy over electricity exports is expected to dominate political debates.
Energy consultant Kathryn Porter of Watt-Logic warns there is “increasing pressure” on Oslo to reassess its electricity relationship with Britain.
Whilst Porter emphasises there’s no immediate threat to power supplies, noting Norway wouldn’t simply disconnect the interconnector cables, she suggests future renegotiations could introduce tariffs.
Ursula von der Leyen
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Her concerns particularly focus on Labour’s net zero ambitions, cautioning: “If we continue along the trajectory that Ed Miliband wants the UK on, we’ll rely on inter-connectors a lot more, but they’re not necessarily going to be available.”
The warning highlights growing uncertainty over Britain’s future access to Norwegian power as domestic pressures mount within the Scandinavian nation.
Conservative MP Nick Timothy has issued stark warnings about the risks of rushed decarbonisation efforts.
He argues that the Norwegian situation “demonstrates the danger of becoming over-reliant on imports to provide our electricity, and the danger in rushing to decarbonise the grid by 2030.”
Timothy emphasises that policy must align with technological capabilities, stating: “Whatever Ed Miliband wishes, policy cannot move faster than technology. Ignoring this obvious truth risks our energy security, our international competitiveness and the well-being of the public.”
The MP has also written to No 10’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell, warning that Miliband’s “net zero zealotry” threatens Britain’s energy security.
Pylons behind houses in KentPABritain faced a stark reminder of its energy vulnerabilities earlier this month when plummeting wind speeds created tight supply conditions.
Experts claimed the country came “within a whisker” of blackouts, though the National Energy System Operator disputed this, citing 1.4 gigawatts of unused emergency reserves.
The incident highlighted potential risks of heavy reliance on wind and solar farms.
Adding to these concerns, security officials have warned about Russian and Chinese vessels deliberately targeting undersea cables in European waters to disrupt electricity supplies.
These threats to critical infrastructure underscore the complex challenges facing Britain’s energy security as it navigates its transition to renewable power sources.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has sought to allay concerns about Britain’s energy security.
In response to growing unease, the department emphasised: “We are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter, due to our diverse and resilient energy system.”
Officials highlighted their commitment to strengthening domestic energy production, stating: “Our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower will maintain the UK’s energy security in the long term – investing in clean home-grown power and protecting bill payers.”
The department maintains regular dialogue with the National Energy System Operator to monitor security and ensure all necessary tools are available to secure supply.