Losses and profits. Summer ends gently in mid-September. The temperatures remain mild and the terraces well filled. So why bother about winter? Perhaps because you have to listen to the sailors who are wary of dead calm. Facing the Scottish and English coasts, the weak wind does not bode well. Especially since these rough seas have bristled with thousands of wind turbines equivalent to the electricity production of more than eight nuclear units. The biggest capacity in the world. On their own, they provide a quarter of the electricity consumed by the United Kingdom… when the wind blows.
And at the beginning of September, the machines came to a standstill. This harmless climatic event plunged the energy world into concern. When the wind turbines stop, it is necessary to rely on other sources of electricity production to supply the country. In the British Isles, it is gas, nuclear and coal. We can finally draw on the reserves. But these are at their lowest, while nuclear power plants are in maintenance or shutdown. There remains gas and coal. The operator of the British network urgently asked EDF to reopen one of the last coal-fired power stations.
Europe is worried
As a result, by weakening, the north wind caused the prices of coal and especially gas to soar. For the latter, prices are reaching levels not seen for twenty years. Because, to the weather, was added the recovery in demand, stronger than expected. The phenomenon is not limited to the United Kingdom, and all of Europe is concerned about the situation. Passing through the Old Continent, an official envoy from the US Department of Energy expressed his deep concern with regard to very low European reserves and insufficient gas supplies. The Americans are at maximum capacity and the Russians are struggling to meet the demand. We understand better the eagerness of the Germans to complete the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea.
The climate transition, which would logically require the cessation of coal and gas production, will wait a little longer. Coal will disappear from the UK and France by 2024, but gas will take much longer. We are reminded of this by the wind, whose sudden weakness has an immediate impact on the price of electricity for individuals and businesses and, as a result, on the recovery and the level of inflation in Europe. Small cause, big effects.
www.lemonde.fr