Rare call for more electricity supplies as wind power drops across Europe

Neso issues ‘electricity margin notice’ for gas power plants on Britain to fire up and boost generation this morning amid energy shortfall

The government body tasked with keeping the lights on has issued a rare call for more electricity supplies this morning due to low wind power generation forecasts across Europe on Monday.

A notice issued by the National Energy System Operator (Neso) on Sunday night said it faced a “shortfall” of almost 1,400 megawatts in its electricity supply margins from 6am until 11am on Monday.

The notice said Neso would need to find extra generation of about 800 megawatts, or the equivalent of a medium-sized gas power plant, within eight hours before a review of power supplies scheduled for 4am.