U.K. Power Surges to Record 400 Pounds as Wind Fails to Blow

“We are not receiving enough renewable production”: Accenture
U.K. can’t count on nuclear as five EDF units are offline

A wind turbine operates near an electricity pylon carrying high tension power lines in Aggersund, Denmark.Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Rachel Morison and Anna Shiryaevskaya

September 13, 2021 at 11:18 AM UTC

Updated on

September 13, 2021 at 2:08 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Electricity prices soared to a record in Britain as a period of still weather is curbing wind power, exposing the U.K.’s reliance on intermittent renewables.

U.K. power for next day exceed 400 pounds ($553) a megawatt-hour at an auction on Monday, an all-time high. Wind generation is currently below normal, accounting for about 11% of all the electricity entering the grid. That’s leaving the market exposed to swings at a time five nuclear units are offline.