The UK has paid wind energy providers $1.3B in 2024 to shut down production

[Jack Aylmer]

THE U.K.’S WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY HAS SET A NEW RECORD IN HOW MUCH OF THE POWER IT PRODUCES GOES TO WASTE.

DESPITE SURPASSING 30 GIGAWATTS OF WIND ENERGY CAPACITY THIS YEAR-

ENOUGH TO POWER AROUND 10 MILLION HOMES-

THE COUNTRY’S ELECTRICAL GRID HASN’T EXPANDED ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT GROWTH.

THIS FORCES GRID OPERATORS TO PAY WIND FARMS TO TURN OFF THEIR FACILITIES WHEN THEY CAN’T HANDLE ALL THE POWER THEY’RE PROVIDING.

A COST THAT IS ULTIMATELY PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS.

SO FAR IN 20-24, THE U.K. HAS SPENT ONE POINT THREE BILLION DOLLARS TO STOP WIND ENERGY FACILITIES FROM PRODUCING ELECTRICITY DUE TO GRID CONSTRAINTS.

THIS YEAR’S CONGESTION COSTS EXCEED LAST YEAR’S TOTAL-

RANKING SECOND ONLY TO 2022, DURING WHICH TIME POWER PRICES WERE ALMOST THREE TIMES AS HIGH AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY.

WHEN THESE ENERGY BOTTLENECKS OCCUR, OPERATORS WILL SHUT DOWN ENERGY SOURCES FURTHER AWAY FROM DEMAND CENTERS, WHILE TURNING ON THOSE THAT ARE CLOSER.

WHAT THIS OFTEN MEANS IS REMOTELY LOCATED WIND TURBINES ARE SWITCHED OFF, AS GAS-FED POWER SOURCES CLOSER TO CITIES ARE FIRED UP TO GENERATE POWER.

EXPERTS WARN THAT THIS SYSTEM COULD JEOPARDIZE THE U.K.’S GOAL OF DECARBONIZINGITS ENERGY SECTOR BY 20-35.

FOR MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW RENEWABLE ENERGY IS PREFORMING AROUND THE WORLD, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.