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Britain currently has HVDC interconnectors to France (2 GW), Belgium (NemoLink, 1 GW), and Netherlands (BritNed, 1 GW), as well as 2 interconnectors with Irelan

Britain currently has HVDC interconnectors to France (2 GW), Belgium (NemoLink, 1 GW), and Netherlands (BritNed, 1 GW), as well as 2 interconnectors with Ireland (East-West and Moyle, 500 MW each) In addition, there are at least 5 new interconnectors due to be completed by the early 2020s: 2 more to France (IFA-2 and ElecLink), 2 to Norway (North Sea Link, NorthConnect), and 1 to Denmark (Viking link).

blibble 7y ago
there's several UK power stations that are legally required to run at less than full capacity due to EU's large combustion plant directive (+ other later directives) after leaving: in the event of a serious short term problem they can be spun up relatively easily until extra (better) capacity can be brought online
- Reason077 7y ago
  All of the UK power plants that were affected by the Large Combustion Plant directive have since been closed permanently. The last one, Ironbridge, closed in November 2015. All remaining coal-fired power stations are legally required to close by 2025, but that's a UK decision, not an EU one. In reality they are being used less and less already, and most are likely to close well before 2025.
  - blibble 7y ago
    > "large combustion plant directive (>>+ other later directives<<)" the follow up directive is still very much in effect and has placed operating restrictions (mostly load and hour limits) on many UK power stations https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-emissions-directive-ied-environmental-permits-issued-2016-p-to-z https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-emissio... these can be lifted on November 1st (if required), and would radically change the economics of the UK's generation market (not that burning coal is a good thing, but it's better than rolling blackouts)
    - Reason077 7y ago
      > "these can be lifted on November 1st (if required), and would radically change the economics of the UK's generation market" How so? Coal-fired power plants are already uneconomic in the UK, and the ones that continue to operate do so with a government subsidy, the "Capacity Market", which essentially pays them to remain on standby in case they are needed. The European Commission actually ruled recently that the CM was illegal state aid, so if anything, Brexit just means that the CM can continue operating. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electricity-market-reform-capacity-market https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electricity-market...
ashildr 7y ago
Thanks, I should have researched the HVDC interconnections, I didn’t expect them to be this relevant. Very interesting!

blibble 7y ago

there's several UK power stations that are legally required to run at less than full capacity due to EU's large combustion plant directive (+ other later directives) after leaving: in the event of a serious short term problem they can be spun up relatively easily until extra (better) capacity can be brought online

Reason077 7y ago
All of the UK power plants that were affected by the Large Combustion Plant directive have since been closed permanently. The last one, Ironbridge, closed in November 2015. All remaining coal-fired power stations are legally required to close by 2025, but that's a UK decision, not an EU one. In reality they are being used less and less already, and most are likely to close well before 2025.
- blibble 7y ago
  > "large combustion plant directive (>>+ other later directives<<)" the follow up directive is still very much in effect and has placed operating restrictions (mostly load and hour limits) on many UK power stations https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-emissions-directive-ied-environmental-permits-issued-2016-p-to-z https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-emissio... these can be lifted on November 1st (if required), and would radically change the economics of the UK's generation market (not that burning coal is a good thing, but it's better than rolling blackouts)
  - Reason077 7y ago
    > "these can be lifted on November 1st (if required), and would radically change the economics of the UK's generation market" How so? Coal-fired power plants are already uneconomic in the UK, and the ones that continue to operate do so with a government subsidy, the "Capacity Market", which essentially pays them to remain on standby in case they are needed. The European Commission actually ruled recently that the CM was illegal state aid, so if anything, Brexit just means that the CM can continue operating. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electricity-market-reform-capacity-market https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electricity-market...

ashildr 7y ago

Thanks, I should have researched the HVDC interconnections, I didn’t expect them to be this relevant. Very interesting!