Part 3 of 5Climate Basics
Climate

Why electricity is cheaper at some hours when the wind blows

When wind is strong and demand is low, power prices can fall sharply — sometimes below zero.

Why electricity is cheaper at some hours when the wind blows

Photo: Unsplash · Unsplash License

Wind turbines cost almost nothing to run once they are built, so they offer power cheaply whenever the wind blows.

Supply meets demand

At night or on holidays, when demand is low and wind is high, there can be more power than people need.

Prices can go negative

In some markets, generators occasionally pay to keep running rather than switch off.

Why storage matters

Batteries and other storage can soak up cheap power and release it when it's scarce.

Series · Part 3 of 5Climate Basics
  1. 1How forests store carbon, and how they lose it5 min
  2. 2How a solar farm sends power into the grid5 min
  3. 3Why electricity is cheaper at some hours when the wind blowsReading now
  4. 4Why power cuts happen more on the hottest days4 min
  5. 5Why sea levels don't rise evenly around the world5 min
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