Energy CEO reveals how much wasted wind energy costs the UK [CtKd6eJN8Vu]
Speaking to The Independent, Greg Jackson, the founder and chief executive of Octopus Energy, said insufficient infrastructure to carry electricity produced by wind farms is forcing them to shut down, which is adding costs to consumers. It is because the National Energy System Operator (Neso) pays wind farms for the amount of energy they would have created when off they have to shut down, and then has to shell out on alternative energy sources, such as from gas-powered stations, to fill the gap on the national network. Mr Jackson, whose company invests in wind farms and is a leading advocate of transitioning to green power, put the cost of the policy at £1bn already since January this year. This compares to £1.2bn across all of 2024, and £780m in 2023. Watch more on Independent TV: The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: Find us on social: TikTok / Instagram / X (Twitter) / Facebook / Download the iOS & Android app: Sign up to our newsletters: Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: