The wrong type of wind

The railways had the wrong type of snow. Britain's electricity system has the wrong type of wind — and five years of half-hourly data show what it costs.

1. The hook

• 11 April 2026. Wholesale power averaged £4.39/MWh across the day. Essentially free.

• The day cost £124.42/MWh all in: £4.66 wholesale, £27.71 balancing, £92.05 policy.

• Wind resource that day: 83% fleet load factor. One of the windiest days of the period.

• The question the piece answers: how does free power cost £124?