Heathrow shutdown caused by problem found seven years ago

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Investigations have revealed that a fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow Airport, leading to the airport’s closure, could have been prevented if the issues had been addressed years ago. National Grid, the owner of the substation, had been aware of a fault at the site since 2018 but had not taken steps to rectify the problem. This lack of maintenance led to a power cut that resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights and left passengers stranded.

In response to the findings, the energy watchdog Ofgem has launched an investigation into National Grid, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband expressing deep concern over the situation. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) identified moisture entering electrical components at the North Hyde substation as the cause of the fire. Despite warnings of an imminent fault in 2018, necessary maintenance to prevent a crisis was repeatedly postponed.

The consequences of the power cut extended beyond Heathrow Airport, affecting essential services like road and rail transport, Hillingdon Hospital, and businesses and homes in the area. Fintan Slye, Neso’s chief executive, emphasized that the responsibility lies with National Grid to maintain equipment properly to ensure operational readiness. Ofgem vowed to hold energy companies accountable for proper maintenance and prevent similar incidents in the future.

National Grid has since taken steps to enhance its asset inspection and maintenance procedures, including re-testing the resilience of substations serving critical infrastructure. Despite the efforts, the report raised concerns about missed opportunities to maximize energy resilience at Heathrow and across the energy industry. Heathrow Airport urged National Grid to take appropriate measures to avoid a recurrence of the catastrophic power outage, which cost airlines millions of pounds due to the airport’s closure

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