Coal power stations fired up again as UK cold snap bites

National Grid asks Drax and EDF to start warming three plants as precaution amid cold weather and low wind speeds

Britain’s electricity generators have been forced to warm up coal-fired power stations for the second time this winter following a sustained period of cold weather and lower wind generation.

With a high pressure weather system with associated light winds likely to dominate for a few more days, National Grid’s electricity system operator (ESO) said early on Sunday it had asked Drax to start “warming” two of its coal units at its North Yorkshire site and EDF to do the same for one at its West Burton plant in Nottinghamshire to ensure supplies on Monday.