System operator National Grid says margins “look set to remain tight” in the winters of 2016/17 and 2017/18 and it will consult next month on whether to extend its strategic balancing reserve (SBR) and demand side balancing reserve (DSBR) measures or seek an alternative solution.
The system operator has spent £36.5 million procuring reserves of 2.56GW for the 2015/16 winter and said at this stage it did not expect to complete another tender round, which in any case would be small, as the total procurement is limited to 2.7GW.