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UtILItY WEEK | 14th - 20th March 2014 | 5 Utility Week energy editor Megan Darby trains as a lineswoman with Electricity North West to mark National Apprenticeship week, p24 EnErgY National Grid seeks back-up National Grid is looking for large energy users and mothballed generators to help minimise the risk of blackouts from next winter. On Wednesday, the system operator launched two surveys to gauge interest in provid- ing demand response or back-up generation at peak times. The call for extra services has been prompted by a projected tightening in the level of spare power generation capacity over the next two years, as old stations retire faster than new generation is deployed. According to Ofgem's latest assessment, the capacity margin could fall to between 2 and 5 per cent in 2015/16. Plugged in Poll: Who is on top in the energy debate? Mathew Beech David Porter Former chief executive at Energy UK If it were the Premier League, then Labour and the Con- servatives would be seen as fighting for top spot, with Labour usually managing to hold the lead by perhaps three or four points – albeit, seen to be employing tactics which, though successful, are thought by the pundits to be decid- edly dodgy (with "fixing" being mentioned). The Lib Dems would be hoping for, at best, a Europa League place. The big six, strapped for cash and deserted by the fans, would find it hard to keep up. Ofgem would be struggling in the bottom three, with the risk of being relegated and – if they lose their match against Labour – actually going out of business. Steve Jackson Director of Operations at Furmanite Worldwide David, the "big six" may be strapped for cash and deserted by the fans, as you put it, but using your analogy, what happens when they decide they no longer want to play and take the ball and the jackets-for-goalposts home? The government lost the will and the ability to fight for top spot when they privatised the industry and did not make anyone responsible for "keeping the lights on", believing that the market would always provide a solution. Join the discussion with Utility Week's LinkedIn group, Utility Week networking and news The UK generated the third lowest percentage of its energy needs from renewable sources, according to the latest figures from the European Commission. A total of 4.2 per cent of the UK's power needs came from renewable sources in 2012, ahead of only Malta (1.4 per cent) and Luxembourg (3.1 per cent). UK third bottom in EU renewable deployment "That seems completely and utterly barking mad" Conservative MP Andrew Percy on the likely closure of Eggborough power station Labour Conservative Liberal Democrat Ofgem The big six 27% 18% 9% 9% 27% Share of energy from renewable sources (in % of gross final energy consumption) Malta Luxembourg UK Netherlands Belgium Cyprus Ireland Hungary Slovakia Poland Czech Rep Germany France Italy EU28 Spain Greece Bulgaria Croatia Slovenia Lithuania Romania Portugal Estonia Denmark Austria Finland Latvia Sweden 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2012 European 2020 target