UK solar at risk of switch-offs as ESO seeks urgent disconnect powers

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
National Grid infrastructure. Image: The Smallpiece Trust.

The UK’s electricity system operator is seeking emergency powers to disconnect embedded generation, including residential solar, fearing tumbling demand this bank holiday weekend could spark national blackouts.

National Grid ESO, the company tasked with managing the country’s electricity system, raised an urgent Grid Code modification seeking the powers last week (30 April 2020).

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

If granted, those powers would allow the ESO to instruct distribution network operators (DNOs) to disconnect any form of generation connected to the distribution network, including almost all of the UK’s solar PV capacity.

The ESO said the modification was necessary as a result of challenges posed by a significant drop in demand associated with the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown. Demand has dropped by around 20% on previous forecasts, posing major challenges in relation to balancing the country’s grids.

While the measures are described by National Grid ESO as a last resort, should they be called upon any embedded generators that are curtailed will not be compensated for their loss of output.

National Grid ESO is seeking the powers to come into force on 7 May 2020, in time for them to be called upon if necessary the following day. That day, a bank holiday for the UK and much of Europe, could see especially low demand and, as a result, “significant operational risk”.

More detail on this story and the code changes raised by National Grid ESO can be read on our sister title Current± here.

PV Tech has set up a dedicated tracker to map out how the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting solar supply chains worldwide. You can read the latest updates here.

If you have a COVID-19 statement to share or a story on how the pandemic is disrupting a solar business anywhere in the world, do get in touch at [email protected] or [email protected].

21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.

Read Next

October 6, 2025
An expert panel has identified a series of grid failures that led to April's unprecedented power outage in Spain and Portugal, ruling out renewables as the leading cause.
October 2, 2025
FRV Australia has announced the completion of its largest solar project to date, the 300MW Walla Walla Solar Farm in New South Wales.
September 25, 2025
Developer ACE Power and Osaka Gas Energy Australia have submitted plans for a 100MW solar-plus-storage project to Australia’s EPBC Act.
September 21, 2025
Lightsource bp has commenced work on a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS) at a 585MWdc solar PV plant in Australia.
September 15, 2025
Australia has reached 26.8GW of installed rooftop solar at the end of the first half of 2025, according to a report from the Clean Energy Council (CIC).
September 4, 2025
India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, the joint forum of the Centre and States, has reduced the GST rate on renewable energy components from 12% to 5%. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK