ABSTRACT
England is generating around 27.5 gigawatts of electricity. The interconnections are two-way cables linking the UK electricity grid to those in France, Ireland and the Netherlands, with new ones now being built to Belgium, Denmark and Norway. Historically, coal was the core fuel for the electricity industry, but it has been gradually replaced by gas because gas-generated electricity produces much less CO2 than coal, and this fits with commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. Uncertainties in the supply of electricity are probably inevitable until there is an electricity grid that covers the whole of Europe and North Africa, with the benefits of the growth of solar and wind generation shared and fully used. The National Grid says: "We expect that new technology, from smart meters to innovative forms of electricity storage, could offer new opportunities for large and small consumers to help to balance the system".
