A comment piece in the Times earlier this week appeared to make a troubling prediction for the UK wind industry this winter. It warned the arrival of a weather phenomenon known as La Niña, “could cause real problems” for electricity supplies because of the likelihood of it being accompanied by an “unusually cold and windless winter” in the UK. But, according to Met Office experts and Carbon Brief’s analysis of past La Niña events, there is little ground for such fears. As just one of a host of factors that can affect UK weather, La Niña is unlikely to dominate enough to warrant forecasts of “emergency” supply shortages. This is especially true this time round since the impending event is expected to be weak, if it materialises at all.
Carbon Brief 21st Oct 2016 read more »