Britain today generating 90%+ of electricity from renewables

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Instantaneous 90% vs overall mix

  • The 90%+ renewables figure is an instantaneous snapshot on a sunny, windy day, not the long‑term norm.
  • Thread participants note that over a year the UK is closer to ~40–45% renewables; recent days and weeks are much lower than 90%.
  • Several commenters stress this isn’t “mission accomplished”: renewables can be very high at some times and very low at others, and the grid must still work in the lows.

Why UK electricity is expensive

  • Many comments link high UK power prices to gas via marginal (pay‑as‑clear) pricing: the last, most expensive gas plant needed to meet demand sets the wholesale price for all generators.
  • Even if gas supplies only a small share at a given moment, it often sets the price, making renewables appear “expensive” despite low operating costs.
  • Others argue wider policy choices also matter: heavy taxation, carbon prices, limited domestic gas production/storage, and the cost of backing up intermittent renewables and upgrading the grid.

Market design, incentives, and Contracts for Difference (CfDs)

  • Renewables often receive guaranteed prices via CfDs. When market prices are high, some money flows back to consumers; when low, consumers top up to the strike price.
  • Critics say this, plus expensive grid reinforcements and backup capacity, means consumers effectively fund two parallel systems (renewables + gas), driving bills up even if spot prices sometimes go negative.
  • Supporters reply that high profits for low‑marginal‑cost renewables are a feature, accelerating build‑out.

Gas, dispatchability, and storage

  • Consensus that gas is currently the main flexible, dispatchable source filling gaps when wind/solar fall, especially evenings and winter “dunkelflaute” periods.
  • Some argue renewables “require” gas peakers; others point to pumped hydro, batteries, and potential future synthetic gases or biogas.
  • Several note UK pumped hydro potential (especially Scotland) but also geography and cost constraints; large‑scale storage sufficient for weeks is seen by many as prohibitively expensive or politically difficult.

Nuclear, biomass, and comparisons

  • France’s low‑carbon mix is praised for high nuclear share and much lower CO₂/kWh despite fewer renewables.
  • UK nuclear (e.g., Hinkley Point C) is widely criticized as slow and extremely costly per kWh compared to wind/solar.
  • Biomass (e.g., Drax) is contentious: counted as renewable on paper, but some see imported wood pellets and associated emissions as environmentally dubious.

Consumer tariffs and demand response

  • Multiple UK users describe dynamic or time‑of‑use tariffs with half‑hourly prices tied to wholesale markets.
  • Cheap or even negative prices occur on very windy days, benefiting those with EVs, home batteries, or flexible usage; others see the required planning as burdensome.
  • Several expect automation (smart chargers, appliances, home batteries) to increasingly shift demand to align with variable renewable output.

Politics, deindustrialization, and strategy

  • Strong disagreement over whether high prices are mainly due to “green” policy, decades of privatization, or mismanaged energy strategy across parties.
  • Some link deindustrialization and high power costs to broader economic decline and offshoring; others emphasize long‑term benefits of domestic, clean generation and reduced fuel imports.