Sue Ferns, Prospect senior deputy general secretary, said:

"As the ESO’s technical report recognises, the most immediate consideration has to be whether current reserve requirements are sufficient. We urge OFGEM and government to give this matter urgent attention as the events of 9 August have raised some lessons that are vital to achieving our climate goals.    

"We need a more transparent and broader framework for investment and regulation and ministers need to get on with bringing in the energy white paper which has been delayed and delayed, leaving us without a clear pathway to net zero emissions.

"And we must not duck the workforce crisis. Retaining and increasing engineering skills and experience is essential if we are to meet the technological challenges of the future."