UK Turns on Coal Power Plant as Wind Farms Fail to Meet Electricity Demand

A view of the cooling towers of the Drax coal-fired power station near Selby, northern England, on Sept. 25, 2015. Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

The UK has been forced to fire up a coal power plant to ensure electricity supply, as low winds prevent the country’s wind farms from generating as much power as expected.

The UK’s National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) said it has asked energy firm EDF to fire up West Burton A, a power plant it operates in Lincolnshire that had been on stand-by.