David Ross
ENERGY experts have called for some of the Longannet power station’s
generators to be kept switched on when it closes next year to help prevent
a scenario where Scotland could be without electricity for up to 36 hours.
Some of the most experienced figures in the industry have urged the UK and
Scottish governments to intervene to prevent Scottish Power’s Fife plant,
the last coal-fired power station in Scotland, closing completely in March
next year.
Sir Donald Miller, former Chairman of Scottish Power, Colin Gibson, retired
Power Network Director of National Grid and Professor Iain Macleod, Past
President of The Institution of Engineers in Scotland, have now had three
meetings with officials in Energy Minster Fergus Ewing’s department and
have also briefed the Secretary of State David Mundell.
They say that under the privatisation arrangements neither the power
companies nor National Grid have had any responsibility for planning long
term security of supplies.
But following a request last year from the regulator Ofgem for National
Grid to assume responsibility, the latter had recently published a schedule
of studies.
However Sir Donald said: “It is estimated these studies will probably take
two years.”
He and his colleagues say it is crucial that at least half of 2,400MW of
conventional capacity provided by Longannet is retained until these studies
are completed and assessed as there would be major implications if there
was a shutdown of the power supply before then.
Currently, if there is a problem, Scotland relies on the Cruachan pumped
storage hydro station at Loch Awe which can be started in under a minute,
supplying power to start Longannet allowing the rapid restoration of supply.
But if Longnannet is no longer operating, the only recourse would be
Cruachan combining with the small hydro schemes throughout the Highlands
and Galloway.
Sir Donald said even if this was possible it would be a lengthy procedure.
“The joint working party set up by National Grid , Scottish Power and SSE,
estimated it could take some 36 hours, a wholly unacceptable scenario,” he
said.
Sir Donald added: “Bearing in mind the catastrophic consequences we
strongly urge that until such time as the National Grid studies are
completed at least 1200 MW of Longannet should be retained.”
He said the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the
Scottish Government between them had means of compensating Scottish Power
for the costs of retaining some plant in commission. “Given the potential
threat, the modest cost would surely be worth it,” he said.
Prospect’s negotiations officer Richard Hardy said the union, which has
been trying to save more than 200 jobs at Longannet, shared the experts’
concerns.
A Scottish Government spokesman said National Grid and the UK Government
had been repeatedly warned of the consequences of declining capacity
margins in the UK electricity system and ministers shared concerns
expressed by a range of external experts.
He said: “The Energy Minister has worked closely with Longannet’s owners
Scottish Power, the unions and key businesses within the Longannet supply
chain to explore all possible options to avert the plant’s untimely closure
and is more than happy to meet with Prof Macleod, Sir Donald and Colin
Gibson to discuss matters further. However, electricity generation is a
reserved matter and all payments made to power generators are the
responsibility of the UK Government and National Grid.”
A DECC spokeswoman said: “Keeping the lights on is non-negotiable. National
Grid has the right tools in place to manage the system this winter and we
will ensure that they continue to do so in future.”
ScottishPower would only say that every potential option to keep Longannet
open had been explored.
A spokesman said: “The station will now close next year and our focus is
consulting with staff to ensure we find the best outcomes possible for all
of the impacted employees.”
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