UK Electricity Crisis: Why the National Grid Wants Wind Farms Turned Off Amidst Need For Energy

Andi C., Tech Times 06 November 2022, 09:11 am

Britain is reportedly losing billions as the national grid urges wind farms to shut down temporarily.

Known for its strong winds, Europe is currently home to nearly 6,000 windmills as of this year, according to CBS News. Recently, on October 26, the UK set a landmark wind generation record when its onshore and offshore wind farms reached 20,896 megawatts, which was able to supply 53% of the UK's electricity, according to Elektrek.

Although there is a seemingly endless supply of renewable energy, United Kingdom countries have been gripped by several crises this year, including a major fossil fuel energy crisis resulting from Ukraine's war with Russia. To solve this crisis, the UK needs to invest in building more electrical infrastructures to help harness and make a battery out of renewable electricity.

However, sources claim that Britain may be wasting millions due to a directive from the National grid urging wind farms to shut down, and here's why.

Why the National Grid Urges Wind Farms to Turn Off

According to Express UK, CEO of Kona Energy Andy Willis clarified that the UK has been wasting millions of pounds for wind farms to stop generating electricity due to experiencing an energy constraint payment.

An energy constraint payment happens during times of the day when the winds become too strong that the windmills' electrical infrastructure cannot accommodate the continuous amount of electricity produced by the wind.

Willis further explained the phenomenon by describing a drain pipe, wherein if one pours an increased load of water from the top, it may get to a point where the pipe will become too full, and water will start to overflow, which can happen as well to electrical infrastructures.

Additionally, Willis noted that their most powerful wind farms are located far away from busy cities that require more electricity supply. Due to the remote location and lack of energy infrastructure, most wind farms are not able to send electricity to the cities.

"And the wind farm generators will actually say 'we're doing our part of the deal. We're producing cheap electricity. It's your problem that you haven't got the infrastructure in place to take our energy.' So the National Grid has to pay wind farms to turn down or turn off, depending on what's happening at the particular time." According to Willis.

UK Faces Blackout Threats During This Year's Winter

Adding to the UK's wind farm crisis, countries will reportedly be facing blackouts during the winter season, according to a report from The Guardian.

Due to the depleting gas supplies caused by Ukraine and Russia's war, the UK government is currently preparing crisis plans for a series of power cuts in different parts of the region.

Additionally, the National Grid added that they are working with the UK government to supply reserve coal stations to ensure enough energy supplies during winter despite the power cuts.

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Written by: Andi C.