The Department described energy security and the security of supply as its highest priority. We asked the Department what it thought about concerns, set out in a document published by Net Zero Watch called “Blackout Risk in the GB Grid”, that events such as certain weather conditions, or interruption to a few power stations, led to a situation in early January where the level of supply in the grid to meet energy demand fell to what it described as “worryingly low levels”; with a risk of “cutt...

The Department described energy security and the security of supply as its highest priority. We asked the Department what it thought about concerns, set out in a document published by Net Zero Watch called “Blackout Risk in the GB Grid”, that events such as certain weather conditions, or interruption to a few power stations, led to a situation in early January where the level of supply in the grid to meet energy demand fell to what it described as “worryingly low levels”; with a risk of “cutting off certain areas of electricity or even a blackout”.72 Indeed, on 8 January 2025, the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO) issued to energy provi Type: conclusion | Number: 25 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: 6a. PAC recommendation: The Department should set out in its Treasury Minute response how it will make sure there is capacity in the grid when there is low generation from renewable energy during periods of calm weather, including from wider technologies like nuc