Part 1: Blowing in the Wind - The Frustrating Tale of Our Wasted Green Energy

As my frequent readers will know, I am all about powering up progress and cultivating talent that truly makes a difference. We talk a lot about the fantastic growth in renewable energy… the huge strides we're making in wind, solar, and tidal power. It's truly exciting to see more and more green electrons spinning into our grid, helping us charge towards Net Zero.

But sometimes, even with the best intentions and incredible technology, we hit a snag. And today, I want to talk about one of those snags that's been making a bit of a stir, the frustrating fact that a significant chunk of our hard won wind energy is actually going to waste. Yes, you heard that right, wasted wind power! It’s enough to make you blow a fuse, isn’t it?

It’s like diligently tending a lush garden, watching your prize winning vegetables grow, only to realise you don’t have enough baskets to bring them all home. It's an issue that feels counter intuitive, especially when we're so committed to harnessing every bit of clean energy we can. But understanding the problem is the first step to finding brilliant solutions, and that’s exactly what our industry is geared up to do.

The Problem: When the Wind Doesn't Go Where It's Blown To

Recent analysis, highlighted by Octopus Energy's fantastic new "Wind Curtailment Index," has really shone a spotlight on this issue, and frankly, it’s quite eye-opening. 

In 2023 alone, the UK wasted a staggering 13.5 Gigawatts of potential wind energy! 

To put that into perspective, that’s enough to power millions of homes…  homes that could have been running on pure, clean British wind!

So, why are we letting all this good, green energy go to waste? Well, it’s not because we have too much of a good thing (you can never have too much green energy in my book!). The primary culprit is grid congestion, effectively, our electrical grid, the vast network of power lines and substations that transports electricity from where it’s generated to where it’s needed, simply isn't wide enough, or "smart" enough, yet.

Much of the UK’s incredible wind resource is found in the windy north, particularly Scotland, where those giant turbines are harvesting the breeze 24/7. But the bulk of the population, and therefore the demand, is in the south. Right now, our transmission lines often don't have the capacity to carry all that lovely green power down south when the wind really gets going. Think of it like a motorway that’s suddenly reduced to a single lane during rush hour. Traffic jams up, and some of it simply can’t get through.

And this is where it gets a little serious (and a lot expensive), not only are we wasting valuable clean energy, but operators are actually being paid to stop generating it. In 2023, National Grid ESO, which manages our electricity system, paid out a whopping £1.4 billion to wind farms to switch off their turbines during periods of congestion. 

Yes, you read that right £1.4 BILLION, paid out to not generate electricity! 

This cost, of course, is ultimately passed on to us, the consumers, through our energy bills. It just doesn't sit right, does it?

Although money is a huge motivator, it's also about efficiency, environmental integrity and our commitment to Net Zero. Every single kilowatt hour of wind energy we waste means we're still relying on more carbon intensive sources at other times, effectively slowing down our race towards a truly sustainable future.

What Happens Next?

This problem of wasted wind power, due to our grid's current limitations, might sound like a bit of a damp squib for our green ambitions. It's frustrating to know that our fantastic wind farms are often forced to take a breather when we need them most. But fear not, this isn't a story without a bright ending!

In my next newsletter, I’ll be diving deep into the exciting solutions that are already being implemented and developed to overcome these challenges. We’ll explore how massive grid upgrades, innovative energy storage systems, smart demand management, and forward thinking policies are all helping us ensure every single drop of our precious green energy is used. We'll look at how we can truly unlock the grid's full potential and let the wind blow where it's truly needed!