The real problem in the UK is that there has been very little investment in reliable 24x7 sources of supply.
Closed in the last few years are all the old coal stations, bar 2 that are due for closure in the near future. Also closed are Nuclear stations that have died to to age or closed early on the grounds of cracking before the expected life of the plant. Hunterston & Dungeness are closed probably a few years earlier than hoped.
The only significant investments has been in wind power which has for the last few months produced very little power.
Come winter, if we have a cold spell that lasts for more than a few days - we will have blackouts.
Other sources such as Hydro, tidal, etc are so small that they are useful but only for a few hours once in a blue moon.
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