UK Heat Wave Cuts Wind Output, Exposing Power Supply Gaps

Britain’s wind turbines ground to a near halt this week, as another heat wave brought calm conditions and forced the nation to switch to gas for power generation.

Wind accounted for just 5% of electricity output Wednesday, with gas climbing to more than a third, according to data from the National Energy System Operator. In the wind-farm heartland of northern Scotland, gas contributed 71% of generation, with wind at 29%.