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Britain could face three-hour power cuts this winter, National Grid warns

British households could lose power for up to three hours at a time this winter if gas supplies run extremely low, National Grid has warned on Thursday (Oct 6).
The company said it was an "unlikely" scenario but added that supply interruptions were a possibility if the energy crisis escalated.
The National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) said in its Winter Outlook: "In the unlikely event we were in this situation, it would mean that some customers could be without power for pre-defined periods during a day – generally this is assumed to be for three-hour blocks.”
A shortage of gas in Europe, as well as maintenance issues with several French nuclear power plants, have raised the risk Britain could be unable to secure the gas it needs or the imports of electricity it typically receives from countries such as France, Belgium and Netherlands.
Russia has slashed its gas supplies to Europe this year and while Russia only meets about 4% of Britain's gas needs, a disruption in supply to Europe has contributed to driving up British prices and makes it harder for Britain to secure gas from others.

"The potential for a shortfall in gas supplies within continental Europe could have a range of knock-on impacts in Great Britain, creating risks around the ability of GB to import from continental Europe," National Grid's Gas Transmission (NGGT) arm said in a separate Gas Winter Outlook.
The British government said in response it was confident of securing power supplies for the winter.
"The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. We are confident in our plans to protect households and businesses in the full range of scenarios this winter," a government spokesperson said.
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"To strengthen this position further, we have put plans in place to secure supply," the spokesperson added, pointing to Britain's North Sea gas reserves, imports from partners like Norway and clean energy sources.
The prospect of power cuts comes as Prime Minister Liz Truss on Thursday (Oct 6) called on Europe to keep energy exports flowing during the winter, and is likely to heap further pressure on the government after she previously ruled out energy rationing in Britain.
The gas outlook said Britain's ability to secure supply would depend upon its gas prices being high enough to continue to attract exports from Europe and liquefied natural gas (LNG) from countries such as Qatar and the United States.
"In the unlikely event there is insufficient gas supply available in GB to meet demand ... We have the tools required to ensure the safety and integrity of the gas system in the event of a Gas Supply Emergency," NGGT said.
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As a first step, these tools include sending notices to the market to try to attract more gas to the system or to get large gas users to reduce demand.
If a lack of gas meant Britain was forced to limit supplies, households would be prioritised and curbs would first fall on large industrial users and power plants.
Both National Grid ESO and NGGT said they expect to be able to meet electricity and gas demand this winter but that the unprecedented and uncertain situation in Europe had led them to look at a range of scenarios.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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