UK renewable energy think tank, Carbon Tracker, have found that inadequate grid connections for wind power has cost UK consumers approximately £590million since the start of 2023. Subsequently adding £40 to the average consumer’s bill.
Wasted wind power is one of the reasons causing electricity bills to rise in the UK, with the figure potentially rising to £150 by 2026 according to Carbon Tracker.
When it is excessively windy, the grid cannot handle the extra energy being generated.
The increase on customer’s bills come when wind farms are paid to switch off and gas power stations are paid to switch on… This process is called ‘wind curtailment’.
To combat this, the UK Government has announced major reforms that will half the time taken to build energy networks to manage peak generation times.
Ofgem, the UK’s energy regulator, also announced new regulations in November that will speed up grid connections.
The majority of the UK’s offshore wind farms are in England with the largest in the world, Daffer Bank, being located off the coast of Yorkshire. In addition to this, half of the UK’s onshore wind farms can be found on Scotland but most if the electricity generated is consumed in the south-east of England.
Wind curtailment and inadequate grid connections are causing all consumers a financial burden.
At their current rate, wind farms are being built faster than the infrastructure needed to transmit the energy.
Renewable UK, UK’s leading not for profit renewable energy trade association, described current grid constraints as ‘reflecting a chronic lack of investment.’
The major issue in the UK is that it takes between 10 and 15 years for new transmission cables to be approved.
The Energy Networks Association explained that ‘urgent action is needed to address planning challenges.’
In 2022, to speed up grid connectivity, Ofgem approved of four projects that will ease future transmission issues across the UK. Along with this, the regulator has implemented new rules that will allow them the power to remove stalled or potential ‘zombie’ projects from innovation pipelines. This will allow viable projects to receive funding and connect to the grid faster.
Are these changes a step in the right direction OR does more need to be done?
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
