← Back to House of Commons Debates
Solar Flares and Electricity Grid Reliance
18 November 2020
Lead MP
Paul Maynard
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
TaxationEnergy
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Paul Maynard raised concerns about solar flares and electricity grid reliance in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The MP questioned the UK's preparedness for a solar flare, which could severely disrupt electricity grids. He highlighted past events like the Quebec incident in 1989 and emphasised the growing reliance on technology that makes such incidents more impactful. He was concerned about the adequacy of current preparations given historical instances where measures were not adequate for the specific risk encountered. He questioned whether sufficient progress has been made since the 2015 space weather preparedness strategy, particularly regarding monitoring capabilities, resilience of infrastructure like transformers and interconnectors, and international cooperation.
I urge him to speak to EirGrid, the Irish grid operator. The nearest radiation monitor is in Belgium, can this affect UK monitoring? What steps have been taken for sovereign capability and when was the last Met Office review of warning systems?
The British Geological Survey's magnetic observatories are operational but how resilient are they to space weather? What progress has been made on publicly funded research, and what steps have been taken with international partners?
Is the GB power grid network still highly meshed and resilient compared to others as stated in 2015? What measures has National Grid implemented for transformer protection, and how are interconnectors being made more resilient?
When was the last national risk assessment update regarding space weather events?
Government Response
The Minister assured that severe space weather is taken seriously, and noted the UK's leadership in forecasting through the Met Office’s Space Weather Operations Centre. He confirmed that all three magnetic observatories are operational and resilient to space weather. Regarding National Grid’s resilience, he acknowledged concerns but highlighted improvements since 2013 with more offshore wind capacity and interconnectors. The Minister stated plans for deploying spare transformers and introducing new transformer designs resistant to space weather effects. A new space weather strategy will be published next year outlining a five-year roadmap to enhance resilience. He emphasised ongoing collaboration among industry, thinkers, and government to mitigate risks from solar flares.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.