On 29^th November 2022 the UK demand for electricity was 37.45GW.

Of that, Open Cycle and Closed Cycle Gas generation was 22.45GW, 59.95%. Coal was even brought on-line with 1GW, 2.67%. So, the fossil fuels were providing 62.62% of our generation.

Nuclear generation was 3.96GW, 10.57%, which is lower than normal.

Biomass replacing coal but NOT carbon neutral was 1.96GW, 5.23%.

Hydro and Pumped Hydro and Miscellaneous together were 1.62GW, 4.33%

Interconnects to France, Netherlands, East-West, Belgium, Norway, Elect-Link, & Ireland totalled 4.44GW, 11.86%.

Oh, I almost forgot, Wind & Solar together, with almost no wind and leaden skies totalled just 1.25GW, 3.34%.

This is mid-morning in November and the temperature was quite high for the time of year.

Even if this stupid government goes ahead and quadruples Onshore and Offshore Wind Farms, on days like this they might only be producing 2.5GW, so we still will need the Gas and the Nuclear and possibly Coal as well.

When the really cold weather arrives in Europe we can forget about the interconnects to Ireland and the continent. UK demand will rise to 45GW, and we will need to ramp up the gas to 34GW, Nuclear to 6GW, Coal & Biomass to 3GW, Hydro, Pumped Hydro and Miscellaneous to 2GW.

For the cost of a quadrupling of wind farms we could get at least 30 Nuclear Small Modular Reactors providing an additional 14GW 24x7x365hours a year. Electrical energy that is constantly available and not at the whim, availability, and eye watering cost of the global market.  Then of course we have to hope that a hostile nation has not sabotaged the gas pipeline from Norway, otherwise the lights go out for 40% of the UK.

Antony Nailer

UK Independence Party Energy Spokesman