© Andrew Aitchison / In pictures via GettyAs the UK grid decarbonises, the country’s electricity supply becomes more vulnerable to extreme weather events
During the first quarter of the year the UK experienced its longest spell of low wind output in a decade, causing the output from wind turbines to shrink dramatically for 11 days straight.
On 3 March the UK produced just 0.6GW of wind power, compared to the 18.1GW of output delivered later that month, according to experts at Imperial College London.
Gas power stepped in to plug the gap in supply, the researchers found, pushing up carbon emissions.
A stretch of dark, still days is known in Germany as Dunkelflaute or 'dark wind lull'. Experts are worried that as the UK grid relies more and more on wind and solar power, it could become more vulnerable to such events.
A Dunkelflaute could hit Britain every 20 years, they warn, and grid operators should be prepared with green sources of back-up power.
"It's time for Britain to get serious about the threat of extreme weather events to our electricity system," said lead author Dr Iain Staffell. "Renewable power sources have made our country cleaner and greener, but as they rely on the ever-changing British weather, completing our transition away from fossil fuels comes with serious challenges."
The Electric Insights report was commissioned by power company Drax.
The woke Brigade cannot demonstrate that wind and solar are reliable. They cannot guarantee that a prolonged period at minus 10 Celsius will not happen making heat exchange boilers fail.
I reserve my right to a fire to keep warm.
Wet wood for fires is now banned making Ash ,which burns green, illegal.
Cost of making your new electric car costs the environment much more than your old diesel. 3percent of the cost of a new car would pay for it's fuel for a lifetime of ten years.