Purpose
To assess the relevance of the UK Parliament inquiry, “Dunkelflaute and the risks of electricity intermittency”, to Northstar Group plc’s Net Zero & Energy priority and identify the preparation required before any external engagement.
Confirmed source position
The inquiry will consider how the UK can maintain a secure, affordable and low-carbon electricity supply during periods of low wind and solar generation. Its scope includes:
- current UK preparedness for dunkelflaute conditions;
- future plans for maintaining electricity security and affordability; and
- policy and regulatory gaps.
The primary parliamentary source does not currently show a closing date, open submission period, next oral evidence session or latest report. The earlier triage identified 22 July 2026 as an evidence deadline, but that date needs verification because it precedes the source’s listed opening date of 23 July 2026.
Why this matters to Northstar
Northstar operates across infrastructure and consumer services, with projects dependent on timely planning and consenting decisions. A policy response to low-renewables periods could affect:
- electricity security and network resilience;
- exposure to wholesale and retail price volatility;
- the design and cost of demand-side flexibility;
- requirements or incentives for backup and storage capacity;
- planning and consenting for energy and enabling infrastructure; and
- the predictability and affordability of the transition for consumers and investors.
Northstar-specific position
There is no approved position attached to this work. The relevant organisational outcome is practical transition policy that supports investment and affordability. Any more specific claims about Northstar’s electricity demand, costs, assets, resilience arrangements or investment pipeline require internal confirmation.
Evidence required
Operations and Infrastructure should identify relevant examples covering electricity dependency, continuity planning, backup arrangements, storage, demand management, connection constraints, network resilience and projects affected by planning or consenting timelines.
Finance should assess whether approved analysis can be shared internally on electricity cost exposure, price volatility, hedging, demand response, affordability impacts or investment uncertainty.
Legal and Regulatory Affairs should review whether any proposed examples involve confidentiality, commercially sensitive information, regulated activities or claims requiring qualification.
Initial assessment
The inquiry is relevant at medium priority and should remain under active watch. The most useful contribution would be practical rather than technology-specific: policy should maintain system resilience and affordability while enabling investment, flexibility and timely infrastructure delivery. We should avoid asserting a preferred technology mix until the evidence base and internal position are agreed.
Next steps
- Verify the parliamentary timetable and evidence route.
- Gather and quality-check internal operational and financial evidence.
- Identify examples that could be disclosed externally, subject to approval.
- Refine the themes below into a possible evidence outline.
- Seek approval before any submission or external engagement.