THE margin of spare generating capacity for this coming winter could be as low as 1.2 per cent, compared with 4.1 per cent last winter, according to National Grid forecasts.
And Energy Minister Fergus Ewing warned the margins could be under even greater pressure, if the Longannet power station is forced to close prematurely.
The National Grid’s winter review and consultation looked at the security of supply in gas and electricity for last winter and launched an industry consultation for winter 2015-16, which will conclude next month.
ScottishPower owns Longannet and has to pay £40 million a year to connect to the grid. The Scottish Government said generators here, including the Fife power station, account for around 12 per cent of the capacity connected to the grid, but pay around 35 per cent of the charges.
The current UK transmission charging regime was introduced by the UK Government in 2005. Since then, successive governments have failed to address the significant disincentive to any new thermal generation in Scotland which these charges present.
The UK Government policy continued to have a negative impact on the existing thermal generating capability in Scotland, and in particular on the potential for new power stations to be built.
Ewing said: “These figures show that the national grid is becoming even harder pressed to keep the lights on this winter.
“Thermal energy is a source of generation which has a significant impact on grid capacity margins and can enhance energy security.
“At a time when the UK Government is presiding over a period of extremely narrow generation capacity margins, it has chosen not to intervene regarding the unfair transmission charges which are threatening the future of thermal generation in Scotland.
“Given the need to address shrinking capacity margins it makes no sense to cancel planned onshore wind developments, as the UK government is doing through the removal of financial support. The situation of narrowing capacity margins will only be exacerbated if Longannet closes prematurely.”
“It is vital, therefore, that all possible options for averting the premature closure of the Longannet site are explored, such as action to address discriminatory transmission charges.
“The Scottish Government has raised these concerns at the highest level in the UK Government and is engaging all relevant authorities and agencies alongside Scottish Power to secure the best possible outcomes for those affected throughout the local economy and further afield by the uncertainty of the site.”
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