Britain's grid operator seeks extra power as heatwave raises demand

Britain's electricity network operator has issued an electricity margin notice for between 7pm and 10pm on Friday, seeking an additional 700 megawatts of power generation. The National Energy System Operator said the notice is a routine tool to maintain adequate supply margins and does not indicate that electricity supply is at risk.

Heatwave conditions Temperatures reached 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday, provisionally setting a record for the hottest June day in the United Kingdom. The Met Office has forecast a high of 40C in parts of Norfolk on Friday. A rare red warning for extreme heat remains in place until 9pm for London and South East England and the East of England.

Grid response The operator paid about £11 million on Tuesday to balance gas supply and demand, more than five times the daily average, according to analysis by Kraken. A spokesman for the operator said forecasts showed tight margins due to high temperatures affecting Great Britain and the continent.

Extreme heat reduces efficiency at power plants and increases electricity use for cooling, prompting the second such request this week.