2nd Sep 2014 11:54
LONDON (Alliance News) - National Grid PLC Tuesday opened a tender for the Supplemental Balancing Reserve service for winter 2014-15, bringing forward one of two services the UK electricity network operator is using to provide additional reserves in the coming few winters amid tightening capacity margins.
The group is to tender for power capacity which would not otherwise be available to the market to be made available by power companies and held in reserve outside the market over the winter.
The tender comes following a number of developments since June, when the company outlined its initial proposals for balancing services in coming winters. National Grid had initially planned for mothballed or closed generators to bid for payments to be in reserve for winter 2015-16, but has now brought the plan forward due to a number of issues, including the fires at Ironbridge and Ferrybridge power stations and a closure announcement regarding Barking power station.
It also said the ongoing investigations at Heysham and Hartlepool nuclear power stations could have an impact on power reserves this year.
"This is a sensible precaution to take while the picture for this winter remains uncertain. At this stage we don?t know if these reserve services will be needed, but they could provide an additional safeguard," said Cordi O'Hara, the Director of UK Market Operation at National Grid.
National Grid shares were down 0.9% to 894.8493 pence on Tuesday.
By Sam Unsted; [email protected]; @SamUAtAlliance
Copyright 2014 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
National GridCentricaSSE