According to UK grid portal since Thursday the UK ( in a period of medium demand ) has had to rely over 85% on Gas, nuclear and biomass and French nuclear via channel cable. Looks like the expensive ornamental fans on sticks failed completely ( despite the government keep telling us UK is the 'wind capital of the world' - more like the hot air capital ). Germany still generating from coal, in fact recently commissioned lignite ( dirty brown coal ) power stations. What would have happened if weather had been colder like it was a few years ago when we almost ran out of gas and Russians embarrassed us by sending us a gas tanker and demand was over 49GW. Fans on sticks should be consigned to garden ornaments, solar panels are OK for garden fairy lights but if we intend to be a self powered industrial country we need a stable power supply that does not depend on the whims of nature. If UK was a sailing ship, for the past 4 days we have been becalmed in the doldrums. Germany has it right, they protect their power supply and industry by building massive 'conventional' backup capacity for the 'whim of nature' renewables, in the UK we spend billions on renewables and cross our fingers - and no plan B.
see attached PDF