Britain saw an increase in electricity exports to France on Friday due to high winds across the country, which resulted in excess power supplies. France reduced its nuclear energy production by about 4 gigawatts—enough to power millions of homes—as it imported additional electricity from the UK, according to Montel Analytics.
This situation underscores the evolving landscape of the energy system, where intermittent power sources like wind and solar are becoming increasingly vital for supplying electricity to homes, businesses, and industries. Storm Eowyn brought winds of up to 114 mph, highlighting Britain’s growing reliance on neighboring countries for electricity trading, especially when weather conditions affect power generation.
Electricity supply must constantly match demand, requiring quick adjustments. During periods of high wind, both Britain and other nations may generate more electricity than they can utilize. Britain is connected to several neighboring countries—such as France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium—through cables known as interconnectors.
According to Jean-Paul Harreman from Montel Analytics, France began the early hours of Friday by exporting electricity due to its low domestic demand. However, as Britain’s surplus became evident, traders switched to importing from the UK. “France was exporting to all its neighboring countries,” he noted. “Then Britain said we don’t need your power, we want to reverse the interconnector. France was already exporting and then received additional power from Britain.”
France had to reduce output from some of its nuclear plants because it couldn’t export any more energy. Currently, Britain has around 30 gigawatts of wind capacity, with about half located offshore, where winds can be even stronger.
At times when production exceeds what can be used or exported, the National Energy System Operator may pay wind farms to reduce their output.
Even with the added exports, several wind farms in Britain had to shut down during Storm Eowyn to manage the supply effectively. The nuclear facilities in France, operated by the state-owned EDF, are crucial, supplying most of the country’s electricity. These plants have limited flexibility for rapid adjustments in output compared to gas or coal-fired plants.
Moreover, France took advantage of the night by using electricity to pump water back into hydropower reservoirs, ensuring they are prepared to generate power when necessary. As the UK’s electricity system relies more on fluctuating sources like wind and solar, its management is becoming increasingly complex.