In brief

Britain’s electricity grid came closer than ever to running without fossil fuels in April 2026, according to analysis from Drax Electric Insights produced by Imperial College London academics. Fossil-fuel generation fell below 1 GW for the first time, reflecting the rapid shift in Britain’s power system as wind, solar, and battery storage continue to expand. The findings come at a time of renewed pressure on global energy markets, including disruption affecting oil and LNG supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

The report also highlights Britain’s growing reliance on cross-border electricity links, noting that it has become Europe’s most interconnected large power system, with more than 10 GW of interconnector capacity and the ability to import up to one third of national electricity demand. At the same time, the article warns that proposed UK data centre projects are requesting around 50 GW of grid connections, roughly equal to Britain’s entire peak electricity demand. It argues that future AI and data centre infrastructure must be designed in a more grid-friendly way, located near strong connections and abundant low-carbon power.

Source: Energy Live News

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