{"id":376875,"date":"2025-04-30T17:06:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T15:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=376875"},"modified":"2025-04-30T17:06:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T15:06:50","slug":"net-zero-watch-warns-of-growing-grid-instability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=376875","title":{"rendered":"Net Zero Watch warns of growing grid\u00a0instability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Paul Homewood<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London: 29 April 2025
For immediate release<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
Net Zero Watch warns of growing grid instability<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With more than 50 million EU electricity consumers suffering blackouts yesterday, campaign group Net Zero Watch has reiterated its warning that the UK power grid is also becoming increasingly unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grid analysts have suggested a high likelihood that the extent of yesterday\u2019s blackout in Iberia was a result of the Spanish grid operating almost entirely on renewables at the time. The stability of power grids depends on so-called \u2018inertia\u2019, a resistance to rapid change that is an inherent feature of large spinning turbines, such as gas-fired power stations, but not of wind and solar farms. Too much renewables capacity on a grid can therefore mean inadequate inertia. As a result, in grids dominated by wind and solar, faults can propagate almost instantaneously across grids, leading to blackouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a recent Net Zero Watch paper, entitled Blackout Risk in the GB Grid<\/em>, energy system analyst Kathyn Porter pointed out that our own electricity system is also becoming increasingly unstable. Large fluctuations in grid frequency \u2013 the first sign of problems \u2013 are becoming much more common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

In the past four years, the upper operational [frequency] limit was breached around 500 times in each winter season\u2026the number of such breaches has also been growing steadily, which is consistent with falling grid inertia\u2026and a perception that the grid is becoming less reliable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In addition, Ms Porter points out that the GB grid experienced a \u2018near miss\u2019 at the start of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Net Zero Watch director Andrew Montford said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

For 20 years, every aspect of the grid has been subordinated to the concerns of the eco-warriors. It\u2019s no surprise that our electricity system is now both unaffordable and dangerously unstable. We can no longer afford to have energy policy determined by fantastists.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Notes for editors<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Kathryn Porter\u2019s paper can be downloaded from the Net Zero Watch website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With more than 50 million EU electricity consumers suffering blackouts yesterday, campaign group Net Zero Watch has reiterated its warning that the UK power grid is also becoming increasingly unstable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":376876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818279,691833039,691834841,691834840,691823612,691818154,691825591],"class_list":["post-376875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-blackouts","tag-gb-grid","tag-grid-analysts","tag-grid-instability","tag-kathryn-porter","tag-net-zero","tag-net-zero-watch","fallback-thumbnail"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0GpsP2YZW0AAVmzf.jpeg?fit=1500%2C790&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1A2D","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":338489,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=338489","url_meta":{"origin":376875,"position":0},"title":"\u2018Handelsblatt\u2019 Reports: Photovoltaics \u201cCausing Problems Electricity Distribution Grids","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"08\/04\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Photovoltaics are escalating power grid instability in Germany, thus increasing the risk of regional blackouts. Too many cheap, uncontrollable systems from China are flooding the market. \u201cMillions of solar installations will have to be torn down\u201d","rel":"","context":"In \"Germany\"","block_context":{"text":"Germany","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=germany"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/0photovoltaic-systems-i04.jpg?fit=1200%2C694&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/0photovoltaic-systems-i04.jpg?fit=1200%2C694&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/0photovoltaic-systems-i04.jpg?fit=1200%2C694&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/0photovoltaic-systems-i04.jpg?fit=1200%2C694&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/0photovoltaic-systems-i04.jpg?fit=1200%2C694&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":377090,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=377090","url_meta":{"origin":376875,"position":1},"title":"Have The Intermittent Energy Blackouts Begun?","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/03\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Today there have been widespread electricity blackouts across Europe, beginning in Spain and Portugal in the early afternoon (local time), and then spreading to other countries including France, Andorra, Belgium and the Netherlands. Is this related to the increasing penetration of intermittent generation from wind and solar facilities?","rel":"","context":"In \"Andorra\"","block_context":{"text":"Andorra","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=andorra"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0droht-uns-ein-extremer-blackout-im-winter_857755995_1200x675_a08afa16a7ff2a5c5294c2d3ff1d6620.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0droht-uns-ein-extremer-blackout-im-winter_857755995_1200x675_a08afa16a7ff2a5c5294c2d3ff1d6620.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0droht-uns-ein-extremer-blackout-im-winter_857755995_1200x675_a08afa16a7ff2a5c5294c2d3ff1d6620.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0droht-uns-ein-extremer-blackout-im-winter_857755995_1200x675_a08afa16a7ff2a5c5294c2d3ff1d6620.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/0droht-uns-ein-extremer-blackout-im-winter_857755995_1200x675_a08afa16a7ff2a5c5294c2d3ff1d6620.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":336817,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=336817","url_meta":{"origin":376875,"position":2},"title":"Go Vegan to stop blackouts: Climate Change causes Electricity Grid failure now","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/18\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Shh: The great Power Grid Necromancers are at work And you thought Blackouts were caused by bad management, but really, it\u2019s \u201cClimate Change\u201d. The poor grid managers now have to cope with floods, fires, heatwaves and a tenth-of-a-degree of warming every decade, you know.","rel":"","context":"In \"Blackouts\"","block_context":{"text":"Blackouts","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=blackouts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/zClimate-change-is-ushering-in-_global-boil_-with-temperatures-and-power-costs-rising.webp?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/zClimate-change-is-ushering-in-_global-boil_-with-temperatures-and-power-costs-rising.webp?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/zClimate-change-is-ushering-in-_global-boil_-with-temperatures-and-power-costs-rising.webp?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/zClimate-change-is-ushering-in-_global-boil_-with-temperatures-and-power-costs-rising.webp?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/zClimate-change-is-ushering-in-_global-boil_-with-temperatures-and-power-costs-rising.webp?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":376870,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=376870","url_meta":{"origin":376875,"position":3},"title":"Solar Farms Failure Behind Spain Blackouts, Grid Operator Confirms \u2013 as Tony Blair Turns on Net Zero","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/30\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"According to the\u00a0Telegraph\u00a0the Iberian Peninsula\u2019s catastrophic power outage on April 28th, 2025, was most likely down to failures at solar farms.","rel":"","context":"In \"Blackouts\"","block_context":{"text":"Blackouts","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=blackouts"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0Screenshot-2025-04-29-151843.jpeg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0Screenshot-2025-04-29-151843.jpeg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0Screenshot-2025-04-29-151843.jpeg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0Screenshot-2025-04-29-151843.jpeg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0Screenshot-2025-04-29-151843.jpeg?fit=1200%2C618&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":291593,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=291593","url_meta":{"origin":376875,"position":4},"title":"Correct, Hot Air, Premature Coal Closures Pose a Serious Threat to Grid Stability","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/17\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"A recent article at Hot Air claims that climate-focused energy policies, including premature closures of coal power plants, threaten the reliability of the U.S. electrical grid. This is true.","rel":"","context":"In \"Blackout\"","block_context":{"text":"Blackout","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=blackout"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/image-375.png?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":440091,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=440091","url_meta":{"origin":376875,"position":5},"title":"The Duck Curve Arrives in Britain: Solar Surge Forces New Grid Balancing Measures","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/17\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The UK's National Energy System Operator (NESO) is preparing for significant solar surpluses this summer, as rapid growth in solar generation threatens to overwhelm the electricity grid during peak midday hours.","rel":"","context":"In \"Ed Miliband\u2019s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)\"","block_context":{"text":"Ed Miliband\u2019s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ed-milibands-department-of-energy-security-and-net-zero-desnz"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-The-Duck-Curve-Arrives-in-Britain-Solar-Surge-Forces-New-Grid-Balancing-Measures1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-The-Duck-Curve-Arrives-in-Britain-Solar-Surge-Forces-New-Grid-Balancing-Measures1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-The-Duck-Curve-Arrives-in-Britain-Solar-Surge-Forces-New-Grid-Balancing-Measures1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0-The-Duck-Curve-Arrives-in-Britain-Solar-Surge-Forces-New-Grid-Balancing-Measures1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=376875"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":376879,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/376875\/revisions\/376879"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/376876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=376875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=376875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=376875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}