August 16, 2019
U.K.

Lightning strike and wind farm fault triggered blackout chaos

Emily Gosden, Energy Editor | The Times | August 16 2019 | www.thetimes.co.uk

A technical fault at the world’s largest offshore wind farm was among a series of failures that resulted in Britain’s worst blackouts in a decade, according to initial analysis by National Grid.

Hornsea One wind farm off the coast of Yorkshire and Little Barford gas-fired power plant in Bedfordshire both suddenly reduced their electricity output shortly before 5pm last Friday.

This removed about 5 per cent of national power supplies and contributed to blackouts that left a million homes without power and caused paralysis on the train networks.

National Grid, the company responsible for keeping the lights on, is due to submit a report today to Ofgem, the regulator, which could impose fines if it finds wrongdoing. The government has commissioned a separate review.

[rest of article available at source]

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/08/16/lightning-strike-and-wind-farm-fault-triggered-blackout-chaos/