Airport bosses faces accusations that back-up power failed to kick in after they replaced diesel generator with biomass version
Daily Telegraph
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Heathrow is facing accusations that it was forced to shut down because it replaced its diesel generator with a net zero-compliant biomass alternative.
More than 1,300 flights to and from the UK’s busiest airport were cancelled or turned away after it was forced to close following a fire that knocked out a electricity substation.
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said he had been told by an industry expert that the airport changed its back-up systems from a diesel generator to an environmentally friendly biomass version.
He said the biomass generator appeared to have failed because it was designed only to work alongside the National Grid, and not independently if the Grid was shut off.
The T2 energy centre at Heathrow, which opened in 2012, heats terminals 2 and 5 using 25,000 tonnes of wood chips per year, sourced from sustainable forests in the UK.
Heathrow sources insisted it was not true that a traditional fossil fuel system would have been able to keep the power on. However, the claim raises questions about Britain’s resilience to attacks in a net zero future.
The accusations came as it emerged counter-terrorism police were leading the investigation into the fire.
The Telegraph understands specialist detectives are on site at the North Hyde electrical substation after a blast there shortly before midnight.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Tice said: “Critical infrastructure like that obviously requires a back-up.
“Having spoken to an industry expert, it appears that Heathrow had changed its back-up systems in order for it to be net zero-compliant.
“Basically their net zero-compliant back-up system had completely failed in its core function at the first time of asking. It beggars belief.”
Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Tice said: “Why is Heathrow being so silent about this? Are they embarrassed because they have something to hide?
“Is it because their net zero back-up failed at the first time of asking, and they daren’t admit it? It just shows the lunacy of net ‘stupid’ zero.”
At least 1,351 flights going to and from the airport will be impacted by the closure, with up to 291,000 passengers thought to be affected.
Heathrow admitted it did not know when power would be restored, while Downing Street said there were “questions to answer” over how a single fire could lead to the airport being closed.
A Heathrow airport spokesman said the site would be closed all day on Friday and would not reopen until midnight tonight.
Heathrow airport notice of closure
The fire broke out late on Thursday night at the electrical substation in west London. The substation supplied Heathrow and a large number of homes and businesses in the surrounding area.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said in a post on X that there was a large-scale power outage in the area, impacting more than 16,300 homes.
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas,” it said. “We’re estimating for power to be restored by 3am.”
A National Grid spokesman said: “A fire at our North Hyde substation in west London has damaged equipment, leading to a loss of power supply in the area. We are working at speed to restore power supplies as quickly as possible.”
An electrical industry source said Heathrow drew power from the local distribution grid and did not appear to have any direct link to the national transmission grid that could bypass the damaged substation.
They said: “Like other major population centres, London relies on bringing in power from elsewhere via the transmission grid.
“The transmission grid is the motorway of the network and this substation is a slipway that brings power to the local area.”
In the event of an outage like this one, restoring power to the area can partially be achieved by the local control room re-routing electricity from other nearby substations to homes and businesses.
But this could only be done to a certain extent and re-routing power became progressively harder for premises closer to the damaged substation, the source added.
‘Unprecedented event’
Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the fire had not only damaged the North Hyde substation but also appeared to have knocked out a backup electrical power generator at the same site.
Describing it as an “unprecedented event”, he said: “There’s obviously been a catastrophic fire at this substation. It appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as a substation itself.
“We will have to look hard at the causes and also the protection and the resilience that is in place for major, major institutions like Heathrow.”
Although critical national infrastructure such as Heathrow typically has several backup power feeds and generators, documents published by the airport suggest that those systems are mainly used for airport lighting – critically important for aircraft to move around safely on the ground after dark. They are not able to run the entire operation, given the amount of power it needs.
In its net zero plan, published in 2022, Heathrow said: “Stand-by generators currently operate using diesel as they need an independent power source to maintain resilient operations. They are used predominantly as back-up power for airfield ground lighting.
“We are investigating renewable-based alternatives that can still meet the stringent performance criteria for such a safety-critical airport asset.”
UK Power Networks Services, which supplies Heathrow as well as other airports including Gatwick, Standard and London City, said on its website that “a one-second power interruption can affect an airport’s operations for hours, if not days”.
Power outage could take days to repair
Experts believe that fixing the power outage and reopening Heathrow will likely take up to two days – raising the prospect that the shutdown could be extended beyond midnight on Friday.
Heathrow and the Government advised passengers not to travel to the airport on Friday.
Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said: “I’d urge passengers not to travel to the airport and contact their airline.”
The Association of British Travel Agents said: “If your flight is part of a package holiday – you will have the highest level of protections. Your travel company will be in touch regarding your holiday.”
A Heathrow spokesman said: “We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens. We will provide an update when more information on the resumption of operations is available.
“We know this will be disappointing for passengers and we want to reassure that we are working as hard as possible to resolve the situation.”
Miliband downplays sabotage theory
So far it is not known whether sabotage or foul play has a part to play in the fire and airport closure. The Government suggested the fire started by accident.
Mr Miliband told LBC: “We’ve got to get power restored as quickly as possible and Heathrow opened as quickly as possible. There’s no suggestion there is any foul play.”