THE CLOSURE of Kincardine’s Longannet Power Station could see even more pressure on the National Grid to keep the country’s lights on.

In its winter review and consultation report, the National Grid found that the margin of spare generating capacity could be as low as 1.2 per cent for this coming winter, compared to a margin of 4.1 per cent last year. If Longannet closes its doors in March next year, there are fears that problem will only become worse.

Owners Scottish Power announced they expect to close the plant early next year after a breakdown in talks with National Grid over crippling £40million transmission costs, and West Fife and coastal villages councillor Willie Ferguson, who has worked at Longannet for almost 40 years, pointed out the irony in the situation.

“I personally have always said that if they take Longannet out then it leaves a big gap in energy supply,” he said. “Longannet is capable of producing 2400 megawatts which now has to be found somewhere else. It’s part of the National Grid so it’s got to be found somewhere.

“It would be ironic if Longannet closed and we had to import electricity and power from England to keep Scottish lights on.” Energy Minister Fergus Ewing also hit out at the “complacency” shown by the UK Government and added that next year, the margins could be under even greater pressure if Longannet is forced to close prematurely.

“These figures show that the National Grid is becoming even harder pressed to keep the lights on this winter,” he said. “Thermal energy is a source of generation which has a significant impact on grid capacity margins and can enhance energy security.

“At a time when the UK Government is presiding over a period of extremely narrow generation capacity margins, it has chosen not to intervene regarding the unfair transmission charges which are threatening the future of thermal generation in Scotland.

“Given the need to address shrinking capacity margins it makes no sense to cancel planned onshore wind developments, as the UK Government is doing through the removal of financial support. The situation of narrowing capacity margins will only be exacerbated if Longannet closes prematurely.

“It is vital, therefore, that all possible options for averting the premature closure of the Longannet site are explored, such as action to address discriminatory transmission charges. The Scottish Government has raised these concerns at the highest level in the UK Government and is engaging all relevant authorities and agencies alongside Scottish Power to secure the best possible outcomes for those affected throughout the local economy and further afield by the uncertainty of the site.” Meanwhile, Cllr Ferguson admitted that all the Longannet workforce can do is keep going and await their fate.

“It’s much the same, there’s been no change to what we’ve already been told,” he said. “I’m forever hopeful for staff that we’ll hear something positive but for now, no news is good news. Scottish Power and Fife Council are doing all they can.”