Power imports soared in the UK during the first half of 2024

In the initial six months of 2024, the United Kingdom experienced a dramatic 81.7% rise in its net power imports compared to the latter half of the previous year, totalling an additional 18.9 TWh.

According to a report from Montel Analytics, this marked increase in power imports can be attributed to a variety of factors. Notably, the return to service of several French nuclear units coupled with a reduction in French domestic demand allowed more power to be transferred to the UK. 

Additionally, the Viking interconnector, linking Britain and Denmark, operated fully throughout this period, further boosting imports. There was also a noticeable increase in power imports from the Netherlands and Belgium, stimulated by a rise in solar generation in both Germany and the Netherlands.

Phil Hewitt, Director at Montel Analytics, explained, “The sharp rise in net power inflows to Britain in the first six months of this year is unsurprising given the wide range of factors that influenced it. 

“Other than a prolonged mild spell of weather, the availability of the French nuclear fleet improved markedly, meaning that it increased output by 10% compared to the second half of last year and low French power demand meant that some of this excess power was dumped into Britain. 

“This resulted in net imports from France into GB doubling to 11.7TWh in the first half of 2024 compared with the last six months of 2023. Excess power from France also flowed into Belgium, resulting in a 90% increase in net imports from the latter country to GB.

“Meanwhile, a rise in solar generation in Germany and the Netherlands led to a tripling of net imports from the Netherlands into Britain, and the Viking Link interconnector was responsible for the start of meaningful power flows from Denmark. In addition, electricity exports from Norway to GB increased by 10% but this follows a usual trend as traditionally Norway nearly always exports a good proportion of its excess power to Britain.

“The overall rise in net power imports to GB would have been higher had it not been for a 16% increase in power exports from Britain to Ireland over the past year. However, this didn’t do much to offset the much steeper rises in electricity flows from the continent and the Nordics.”

According to the report, Britain emerged as the second-largest net importer of power in the first half of 2024, following Italy. Italy remained the largest net importer with 25.4 TWh sourced externally, including significant volumes from France and Switzerland.