Blackout Britain?

There’s been some problems in Norway and it has now cast a spotlight on Britain’s energy security, highlighting the vulnerabilities of relying heavily on imported power. As reported by GB News, the collapse of Norway’s government over EU green energy directives has raised concerns about the UK’s dependence on Norwegian electricity imports (Walters, 2025).

With Norway supplying a significant portion of Britain’s power needs through undersea cables, accounting for 4% of UK electricity supply in a recent weekend, any disruption to this arrangement could have serious implications. Energy consultant Kathryn Porter warns of “increasing pressure” on Oslo to reassess its electricity relationship with Britain, potentially leading to future renegotiations and tariffs (Walters, 2025).

These developments, coupled with recent close calls with potential blackouts due to low wind speeds, underscore the need for diversified and resilient energy solutions. This is where portable solar energy comes into play as a potential part of the solution.

Portable solar technology offers several advantages in addressing energy security concerns:

1. Decentralized power generation: Reducing reliance on large-scale imports and grid infrastructure.
2. Emergency preparedness: Providing backup power during potential blackouts or supply disruptions.
3. Flexibility: Allowing for rapid deployment and scalability to meet changing energy needs.
4. Sustainability: Aligning with net-zero ambitions while enhancing energy independence.

As the UK navigates its transition to renewable power sources, integrating portable solar solutions into the energy mix could help mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on imports and intermittent large-scale renewables. These technologies can complement grid power, offering resilience during supply shortages and reducing strain on the national grid during peak demand periods.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero remains confident in Britain’s energy security, stating, “We are confident we will have a sufficient gas supply and electricity capacity to meet demand this winter” (Walters, 2025). To take it a step further, the integration of portable solar solutions could further strengthen this position.

As Britain aims to become a “clean energy superpower,” embracing innovative technologies like portable solar power might just play a super key role in maintaining energy security, protecting consumers, and achieving long-term sustainability goals.

References:

Google. (2025). Gemini (Imagen 3) [AI image generator]. https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/imagen 

Walters, J., 2025. Blackout Britain risks soar as Miliband’s ‘net zero zealotry’ leaves UK at mercy of ‘dangerous’ EU energy row. GB News, [online] Available at: <https://www.gbnews.com/news/energy-news-blackout-eu-row-norway > [Accessed 4 February 2025].