The reported cost of reducing wind generation during periods of gale-force winds in the UK is said to reach about £1 billion this year, according to the outlet citing the figure. The cost is linked to paying wind farm operators to curtail output when power cannot be transported efficiently to demand.
The report describes a mechanism in which some remote wind farms are paid to turn off when they produce more electricity than the grid can move, while other generators—such as gas plants closer to demand—provide balancing power. The outlet also says these expenses are ultimately reflected in energy bills, though it does not specify the full policy or regulatory pathway in the provided text.
Across the information supplied here, the emphasis is on the economic impact of curtailment and balancing costs. The claim focuses on the interaction between wind generation, grid constraints, and the need for alternative generation during times when transmission capacity is limited or when wind output exceeds what can be dispatched.
