So far in 2026, Britain has wasted £1.2bn switching off wind turbines and paying gas plants to switch on.

On 8 September 2026 wasted wind cost £29m, (£3m switching off wind turbines and £26M buying energy elsewhere). The cost of turning down wind turbines (curtailment) and replacing that lost energy (turn-up).

As the UK awaits improvements to its grid and better storage solutions, current policies mean that these figures are likely to increase in the near term. For some this indicates a problem with the way green contracts are made, to others it is a call for more zonal pricing, or to make energy cheaper where supply is strong.

Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy commented n these latest figures from the Wasted Wind tracker saying: “The Government took action quickly on electricity costs, with the VAT cut, but of course the biggest opportunity is to make the system less expensive. Yesterday the UK wasted £29m turning off wind power and paying gas to replace it. That's twice the amount we spend on prisons that day, and a third of the total cost of wholesale electricity. Whilst it’s the highest day yet, this will be normal by 2029, unless serious actions are taken soon.”

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