UK fuel rationing fears: 'Energy emergency' as Norway threatens to limit power exports

THE UK is facing the prospect of an energy shortage, as Norway has threatened to limit its exports to the UK and Europe this winter.

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The country has drawn up plans to ration its electricity exports, sparking fears of an energy shortage. The Norwegian government also announced new rules limiting the sale of power to foreign countries earlier today. This comes as the country's hydroelectric power plants - which generate the majority of its energy - are being threatened by unusually hot and dry weather.

The announcement comes amid growing anger in Norway over rising domestic energy prices.

The UK is expected to be more dependent than ever on the Continent for power this winter.

The National Grid expects the UK to be able to draw on 5.7 gigawatts of power from Europe – equal to around 10 percent of demand at peak times.

But around a quarter of this figure, 1.4gigawatts, is expected to come from Norway.

Kathryn Porter, an energy consultant at Watt-Logic, said the newly proposed measures "put at risk the ability of Britain to import from Norway this winter".

Hydroelectric power

The UK is facing the prospect of an energy shortage, as Norway has threatened to limit its exports (Image: Getty)

She added: "National Grid ESO needs to urgently update its winter outlook taking account of this threat to Britain's energy security.

"Longer term, we need to develop more domestic generation and rely less on imports."

Britain's reliance on imports for its power also came under fire from Conservative MP Bob Seely, who said: "There is likely to be an energy emergency in Europe, primarily caused by Germany’s disastrous decisions; first, to shut down its nuclear power stations to appease its obsessively anti-nuclear green lobby, and, second, to become utterly dependent on Russian gas.

"Currently, it seems likely that Putin will squeeze energy supplies further this winter to extract the maximum political pressure in Germany and other EU states that use Russian gas, such as Italy and Hungary.

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Hydroelectric power

Norway's hydroelectric power plants generate the majority of its energy (Image: Getty)

Norway's Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre

The Norwegian government also announced new rules limiting the sale of power to foreign countries (Image: Getty)

"He wants to undermine the coalition in support of Ukraine."

Speaking to the Telegraph, he added: "I hope the Grid’s assumptions are correct, but it is dependent on a level of Russian supply which may not be there, and French nuclear power, which has problems of its own.

"There are other countries we take from including the coal-burning Dutch power stations, but they will have their own pressures."

A National Grid spokesman said the company would update its winter forecasts to ensure they are "as robust as possible" in the Autumn.

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Energy Pie Chart

(Image: Express)

Shell's chief executive previously warned that Europe could face energy rationing.

Speaking at the Aurora spring conference in Oxford last month, Ben van Beurden said: "It will be a really tough winter in Europe.

"We will all face very significant escalation in energy prices.

"In the worst case, Europe will need to ration its energy consumption."

Recent analysis by energy consultancy Auxilione predicted that the energy price cap could reach £3,687 by October, almost double today's record levels.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) told Express.co.uk: "The UK’s secure and diverse energy supplies will ensure households, businesses and industry can be confident they can get the electricity they need.

"Thanks to a massive £90 billion investment in clean energy in the last decade, we have one of the most reliable and diverse energy systems in the world.

"We have secured the capacity we need this winter to ensure households, businesses and industry can be confident they can get the electricity they need, taking account a wide range of risks, such as changes to export rules overseas."

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