Sales of portable batteries that can power a fridge during a power cut have climbed threefold as the UK braces for potential winter blackouts. The National Grid has warned of potential power cuts should Russia's war in Ukraine continue to affect supplies and the country suffers a cold winter.
Anker Innovations Technology, a large manufacturer of portable batteries, says that sales in October were up to three times higher than in the previous month as people show a willingness to pay up to £1,400 for batteries that can keep appliances running during the winter.
The Express says that the firm usually sells power station products to the US, which experiences a higher volume of power cuts, with UK customers usually coming to them ahead of camping trips. However, PR manager Lorna Smith told Bloomberg that UK households worried over the blackout warnings are buying big batteries as a backup. Known as the 757 Powerhouse model, the battery costs around £1,400 and can recharge a portable fridge for 22 hours.
While this could provide homes with a lifeline amid rolling blackouts, the company says it is sold out until December "due to overwhelming demand".
Ms Smith told Bloomberg: “It has been a slow uptake in the UK because we haven’t had [storms and blackouts] before, but now we’ve seen quite an increase over the past couple of months with all the warnings of power cuts."
According to Anker's website, another battery, the PowerHouse 1229Wh, can provide power backup for lights for eight hours, the fridge for 2.7 hours, the TV for nine hours and a microwave for an hour and a half.
Under National Grid's "worst-case scenario", there will be four days of organised blackouts in the month of January if gas supplies run dry. Moderate options include a voluntary incentive scheme for customers that could see households that own smart meters be given cash back for limiting their energy consumption when demand is at its highest.
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