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Join UsThe primary reason we pay high electricity prices in the UK is that in effect we are paying twice, once for wind (blue) and solar (yellow) and also for the backup from gas (brown) when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine. The chart below shows a typical period in winter when gas power stations have to fire up and down to meet demand when the wind is low. (Source: National Grid data).
For a more detailed analysis download the Factsheet “Why electricity prices are going higher”
For more than one third of the year wind fails to provide 20% of electricity demand
At other times the wind farms are paid to switch off The latest estimated cost is £3bn per annum or £100 per household, For further information on wind variability and costs go to factsheets.
If electricity is 95% zero carbon free by 2030 it is forecast that system operating costs will increase from £34.1bn to £58.9 bn. This increase of £24.8bn equates to £873 per household if it is all loaded onto electricity bills. (In practice it will probably be covered by levies on gas bills and higher taxation as well as increases in electricity bills.
Source: https://www.netzerowatch.com/all-papers/hughes-system-cost-2030
We are spending a forecast £10.1 bn to bring 10.9 GW of electricity from Scotland to England. In the past power stations were built close to where the electricity was needed.
For £10.1bn we could build a cluster of 12 small nuclear reactors (with a combined capacity of around 4 GW) on 84 acres in the 270 acre site of the recently closed coal power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar. They could use the existing power lines if they have not been removed.
Source: https://www.netzerowatch.com/all-papers/hughes-system-cost-2030
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