Chaos as Ed Miliband to pay UK photo voltaic farms pressured to change off – too sunny | UK | News | EUROtoday

Solar farms within the UK have been paid to change off so a surge of solar would not overwhelm the grid, analysis exhibits. Overseen by Energy Secreatary Ed Milibandthe National Energy System Operator (NESO) has issued switch-off orders since February.

Solar operators can declare compensation when pressured to change off by NESO, which manages Britain’s energy grids. NESO has mentioned such motion is required to keep up UK energy grids stay secure.

The price of so-called “constraint payments” is added to homeowners and companies’ power payments. Such funds apply to wind farms as nicely.

Britain has spent greater than £670million switching off wind generators and paying gasoline vegetation to change on, in line with the Wasted Wind web site, which recommends bettering the grid and making power cheaper the place provides are sturdy.

Five photo voltaic farms have been paid a complete of £102,500 to chop output by 3.6 gigawatt hours between February and June this 12 months.

The determine comes from analysis by the Renewable Energy Foundation (REF). The power information charity’s director, John Constable, instructed the Telegraph the quantity is ready to develop.

He mentioned renewables builders ought to be capable of stand on their very own toes by now however they’re nonetheless begging for subsidies and particular therapy, resembling constraint funds.

Mr Constable added: “It’s a key reason why the UK has some of the world’s highest energy prices. It’s time for this to stop before the burden on households and businesses does irreparable harm.”

A spokesman from NESO mentioned: “When there are physical constraints on the network and it cannot physically transfer the power from one region to another, we sometimes ask [solar] generators to reduce their output to maintain system stability and manage the flows on the network.

“Generators are then compensated by way of a constraint cost. We don’t touch upon particular person property or the prices paid to them.”

A spokesman from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said some solar farms were recently given their first constraint payments. He said the Government is working “at tempo” with the business to rewire the UK, minimise constraint funds and pace up building of grid infrastructure.

Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of commerce physique Solar Energy UK, mentioned there at the moment are greater than 3,300 photo voltaic farms throughout the UK and that solely 5 of those being in receipt of constraint funds confirmed the problem is of restricted significance. He added, nevertheless, that it does underline the grid wants extra power storage.