Can We Rely Upon Wind in Cold Weather? Ask the UK

In the United Kingdom, electricity demand reached its highest levels on January 19, 2015, but the country’s wind turbines generated their lowest output of the season. The wind industry is one of the most highly subsidized parts of the UK economy. Yet when UK demand hit 52.54 gigawatts between 5 pm and 5.30 pm on Monday, January 19, wind contributed just 0.573 gigawatts during that time–just over 1 percent of total demand.(i) On average that day, natural gas and coal each generated 35 percent of electricity demand, nuclear power generated 21 percent, and wind power generated 1.9 percent.[ii] Further, when temperatures are at subzero levels, the UK’s offshore wind farms require power from the National Grid to prevent the wind turbine blades from icing. The turbines have to idle slowly when temperatures are low to stop ice from forming and to power the hydraulic systems that turn the blades.[iii]