As the Heathrow fire continues to blaze, a viral social media post claiming that the airport’s reliance on green energy contributed to the massive power outage is fanning the online debate. The post suggests that Heathrow’s shift towards sustainability left it vulnerable in a crisis, reigniting discussions over the airport’s commitment to renewable energy.
The fire, which broke out at North Hyde substation near Heathrow, led to a complete shutdown of the airport, affecting over 1,350 flights. While authorities have stated that there is no evidence of foul play, the disruption has raised concerns about the resilience of the UK’s infrastructure. The Heathrow biomass system, first introduced in 2012, was praised as the largest ‘own use’ renewable energy plant in the UK, reducing 13,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. By 2023, Heathrow further expanded its sustainability efforts with solar panels and electric vehicles.
However, the viral post argues that Heathrow’s biomass-powered backup system failed when it was needed most. Unlike diesel generators, which can restore power within seconds, biomass energy takes hours to reach full capacity. The post suggests that this delay contributed to Heathrow’s prolonged blackout, forcing thousands of passengers to reroute or remain stranded.
Despite the speculation, there is no official confirmation that Heathrow’s backup power system played a role in the extent of the shutdown. The government has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and the broader implications for national infrastructure security. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband acknowledged that the impact of the blaze was severe but stated that there was ‘no suggestion’ of sabotage. Counterterrorism detectives are leading the investigation due to the critical nature of the affected infrastructure.
From California wildfires to Heathrow: How ‘woke policies’ became a scapegoat
This controversy echoes the reaction from MAGA influencers in the US, who blamed “woke politics” and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies for hindering rescue efforts during the LA wildfires. Critics, including Elon Musk and MAGA supporters, argued that DEI has undermined California’s response by prioritising diversity quotas over merit. They claimed that resources have been diverted from vital infrastructure and fire prevention, with DEI policies causing inefficiencies in fire departments.
However, experts dispute this view, stressing that environmental factors such as climate change are more to blame for the wildfires. They also pointed out that DEI initiatives in public services do not compromise on qualifications, and there’s no evidence to suggest that diversity hiring has hindered firefighting efforts. The real issues, experts argue, lie in systemic failures like aging infrastructure and inadequate disaster preparedness.
The disruption in UK led to widespread criticism of the UK’s preparedness for emergencies. Alan Mendoza of the Henry Jackson Society noted that the incident highlighted weaknesses in national infrastructure resilience, questioning how a single fire could cripple Europe’s busiest airport. Heathrow officials admitted that the power outage also disabled the airport’s backup supply, exacerbating the crisis.
Passengers faced significant challenges in rebooking flights, with airlines scrambling to manage the fallout. Some flights were diverted to alternative airports, including Gatwick, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Shannon in Ireland. Others were left stranded, with limited communication from airlines. National Rail services to and from Heathrow were also suspended, compounding the travel chaos.
