The UK’s electricity system operator is preparing for significant spikes in power demand during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with forecasts suggesting that England and Scotland matches could trigger surges equivalent to the combined electricity consumption of Leeds and Glasgow.
Analysis from the National Energy System Operator (NESO) indicates that each group-stage match involving either home nation could increase national electricity demand by around 600MW as millions of viewers tune in from homes, pubs and other venues across the country. The operator is also anticipating sharp fluctuations at half-time and full-time as viewers simultaneously switch on kettles, open refrigerators and use other household appliances.
The tournament, being staged across the US, Canada and Mexico, is expected to drive a cumulative increase in electricity consumption of around 18GW over its 39-day duration compared with the 2022 World Cup, reflecting the expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches.
NESO has described the competition as likely to be the “cleanest” World Cup yet for British television audiences, reflecting the growing contribution of renewable energy sources to the UK grid. Engineers will rely on demand forecasting, battery storage and other flexibility technologies to maintain system balance throughout the tournament.
However, industry experts say the World Cup also illustrates the changing challenges facing grid operators as renewable generation becomes increasingly dominant.
Tim Foster, Director of Energy for Business at Conrad Energy, said battery energy storage systems would play a pivotal role in maintaining reliability during periods of sudden demand.
“This will be the first World Cup where battery storage keeps Britain watching.
“The acute sensitivity of electricity grids means that faults in supply or surges in demand can have an outsized impact if safeguards are not in place.
“This risk is not new, and traditional power sources were never entirely foolproof. However, as this is set to be the cleanest World Cup yet for TV viewing in Britain, driven in large by the increased integration of renewables, the challenge of ensuring stability is evolving and the possibility of disruption or so-called ‘brown-outs’ will only continue to increase unless action is taken to bolster grid stability.
“Traditional power generation provided predictable and reliable supply that could be closely matched to demand. Historically, the surge in energy use during half-time when the nation put the kettle on could be accounted for in advance by grid operators, but the renewables that now provide much of our energy do not operate in the same way.
“Wind and solar generation fluctuate with the weather and whilst NESO can implement short-term measures to avoid disruption during matches, it is the long-term plans to strengthen the grid and boost our Battery Energy Storage Systems that matter most. Watching the World Cup is becoming cleaner than ever, but we will need continued investment in grid stability infrastructure and energy storage to continue enjoying uninterrupted viewing all the way up to the final whistle and beyond in the years to come.”
Conrad Energy works with NESO on grid stability projects, including the deployment of synchronous condensers that help maintain system frequency and inertia as conventional fossil-fuel generation is displaced by renewable sources. The company operates more than 80 sites across the UK, including gas generation, wind, solar and battery storage assets.
The challenge facing grid operators picks up on a broader theme in the energy transition. While large sporting events have long produced predictable demand spikes — famously associated with the UK’s collective “kettle surge” during football half-times — the increasing share of weather-dependent renewable generation means that balancing supply and demand requires more sophisticated forecasting and flexibility resources than in previous decades.
At the same time, improvements in energy efficiency are helping to offset some of the impact. NESO estimates that despite larger audiences and a UK population around 11 million higher than during the 1998 World Cup, Britain could use around 20 per cent less electricity per match thanks to more efficient televisions and electronic devices.
For the clean energy sector, the tournament may provide a high-profile demonstration of how battery storage, grid stability technologies and advanced system operation are becoming essential components of a low-carbon electricity system — ensuring that millions of football fans can keep watching, even when the nation reaches for the kettle at the same time.
