By Laura Paterson
An MSP is calling for a major inquiry into the cause of the power cut that
left more than 200,000 properties in the dark across the north.
Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart said the massive blackout was “very
worrying” and he demanded answers from Scottish Hydro Electric Power
Distribution about why one incident could black out such a wide area.
The inquiry call came as former top power boss Sir Donald Miller claimed
the north transmission network was more vulnerable because of the way wind
power was managed.
Mr Stewart said: “This in my experience is totally unprecedented, to have
more than 200,000 customers affected by a loss of power. There still
doesn’t appearto be an explanation.
“Whatever the reason, it is very worrying that this has happened. I will be
calling for a major inquiry into how this has happened and will be raising
the issue with Alex Salmond when I return to the Scottish Parliament next
week. I want answers from the network operators.
“I’m very concerned about the potential accidents that could have happened
during the time the power was out. My major concerns are the effects on
businesses and the effect on vulnerable residents left in their homes
without heat or light.”
The widespread power cut hit the Highlands, islands and Moray shortly after
8 .30 pm on Wednesday, affecting about 205,000 homes at its peak, with some
premises out for three hours.
Yesterday, the former chairman of Scottish Power, Sir Donald Miller, said
he believed the transmission network in the north was now “more vulnerable”
due to the way wind power was being installed before the necessary
transmission capacity was available.
Sir Donald, who was also chief engineer for the North of Scotland Hydro
Electric Board in the 1960s, said that prior to the introduction of the
“connect-and-manage” system for wind turbines in 2010, the transmission
network could cope with its two greatest-capacity circuits in any area
going down at any one time by switching off the faulty circuits.
This is done within a fraction of a second, so all that customers would
notice is a momentary blink in the lights.
With the “connect-and-manage regime”, the network loading also has to be
adjusted – for example, by shutting down some wind turbines – and this
cannot be done in the same time frame.
Sir Donald believes this makes the system less robust and more prone to
overloading. And he feels the risk to the system and reliability of the
supply will increase the more wind turbines are installed.
A Hydro Electric Power Distribution spokeswoman apologised for the “rare
and unexpected” blackout but, when asked if a wind power surge had been
ruled out, said no more information could be given.
National Grid said there was “very accurate wind forecasting” and claimed
wind power did not overload the grid.
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