What caused the UK's power blackout and will it happen again? - Watt-Logic
Why were a million electricity users cut off? Is the move towards more wind power responsible for the blackout, and should National Grid have prevented it?| Watt-Logic
Why were a million electricity users cut off? Is the move towards more wind power responsible for the blackout, and should National Grid have prevented it?| Watt-Logic
Recently, I was asked: what if Edison had won the Battle of the Currents? As power grids today are increasingly dominated by inverter-based generation, could a direct current (dc) grid be more effective than the alternating current (ac) grids we rely on today? Would we still need spinning mass, inertia, and frequency control| Watt-Logic
The ASPs for AR7 have been published and they are higher than AR6, despite the 5 year increase in contract length| Watt-Logic
Britain’s civil nuclear programme stands at a critical juncture. With aging AGR reactors nearing the end of their lives and delays to new projects like Hinkley Point C, the UK faces a potential capacity crunch. Yet one of the most significant obstacles to progress is not technical, it is regulatory. For decades, nuclear has [...] The post Nuclear regulation: pragmatism not paralysis appeared first on Watt-Logic.| Watt-Logic
The Iberian blackout demonstrated the importance of voltage control and reactive power, and how a weak grid, with poor controls, was brought down by a single faulty solar inverter. In this second part of my analysis of the Iberian blackout, I examine the specific technical causes of the incident. Where technical concepts such as [...] The post Voltage, inertia and the Iberian blackout part 2: faulty PV inverter crashed the grid appeared first on Watt-Logic.| Watt-Logic
The Iberian blackout demonstrated the importance of voltage control and reactive power, but these concepts are poorly understood even by people within the electricity sector. In this two-part series of posts I will look at voltage, active power and reactive power in power grids and how they relate to the blackout in Iberia on [...] The post Voltage, inertia and the Iberian blackout part 1: the theory appeared first on Watt-Logic.| Watt-Logic
Stress corrosion faults in the French nuclear fleet continue to cause problems as reactor re-starts are delayed| Watt-Logic
The final report into the North Hyde fire makes for difficult reading both for NGET's poor maintenance culture and Ofgem's oversight| Watt-Logic
In the wake of the Iberian blackout is it really wise of NESO to seek a reduction in the minimum inertia it's required to hold?| Watt-Logic
Following quite a few requests, I have started recording some video content which can be found on YouTube here: So far, I have recorded videos about marginal pricing, and whether gas is responsible for bills being high. I have also posted a recording of a speech I gave at a public meeting in Wells [...] The post Introducing my YouTube channel appeared first on Watt-Logic.| Watt-Logic
Yesterday demonstrated some of the challenges of high wind generation on the GB system, with lots of activity in the Balancing Mechanism, particularly to curtail wind and CCGTs, as well as bringing up CCGTs, and some counter-intuitive interconnector activity. It also exposed issues with poor forecasting, which I have highlighted before. Wind output was [...] The post High wind and forecasting errors cause havoc on the GB grid appeared first on Watt-Logic.| Watt-Logic
Today my new report into the true affordability of net zero was launched. In it I debunk some of the myths about the cost of renewables| Watt-Logic
The total Iberian blackout on 28 April 2025 illustrates the dangers of operating power grids with low inertia| Watt-Logic
As my blog turns 9 net zero realism is growing, notably in the US but also in the UK as opposition parties commit to ditching the target| Watt-Logic
Heathrow airport blackout following substation fire highlights vulnerabilities in UK critical infrastructure| Watt-Logic
NESO has been desperate to stop questions over the blackout near miss last week with a disappointing lack of transparency over actual margins| Watt-Logic
The tightest day in the GB power market since 2011 saw a near miss for blackouts and demand control as the spare margin fell to 580 MW| Watt-Logic
Net zero plans call for much higher levels of demand-side response, but both industrial and domestic DSR participation is falling| Watt-Logic
The GB power grid seems to be operating at the margins, with frequency often drifting outside operational limits| Watt-Logic
The contributions of renewables and interconnectors to the grid are lower than the UK Government believes| Watt-Logic
In my new report I describe the problems with relying on electricity interconnectors for security of supply| Watt-Logic
Improving the energy performance of buildings is key to achieving net zero, but significant policy changes are needed to ensure success.| Watt-Logic
In my final post on the uranium supply chain I look at geopolitical risks threatening the access of western countries to nuclear fuel| Watt-Logic
In this second post on uranium supplies I look at the nuclear fuel cycle and the steps from mining to fuel fabrication| Watt-Logic
Net zero is driving renewed interest in nuclear power which is both zero carbon and reliable. This is in turn driving demand for uranium| Watt-Logic
With the election rapidly approaching I take a look at what the manifestos for each party say about energy - this time the Lib Dems| Watt-Logic
With the election rapidly approaching I take a look at what the manifestos for each party say about energy - this time Labour| Watt-Logic
With the election rapidly approaching I take a look at what the manifestos for each party say about energy, starting with the Conservatives| Watt-Logic
Ofgem is minded to reject all but one of the interconnector projects applying for authorisation in the cap and floor regime| Watt-Logic
Nuclear regulation is strangling delivery of new reactors. Timescales are long, costs are high. Reform is essential if targets are to be met| Watt-Logic
The opening of the Viking Link has been greeted with enthusiasm but relying on interconnectors carries risks| Watt-Logic
A disappointing roadmap from the Government plus the AGR retirement schedule risk periods of zero nuclear power later this decade| Watt-Logic
My report, "Prospects for nuclear energy in the UK" explains that the Government's ambitions for nuclear are too timid| Watt-Logic
Off-shore wind targets are increasing, but with rising OEM losses, failing tenders and project cancellations, they look unlikely to be met.| Watt-Logic
