Why is power not cheaper when we have so many renewables?
Why is power not cheaper when we have so many renewables?
As wind farms sprout up across the county and more and more homes benefit from solar panels soaking up the sun, it is fair to question why your electricity bill isn’t plummeting – after all isn’t renewable energy supposed to be the future of cheap, clean power?
Let’s take a closer look as to why your electricity doesn’t feel quite as renewable as you might expect.
The wind doesn’t always blow…and the sun doesn’t always shine
Yes, it’s true—Northern Ireland has more wind turbines than you can shake a stick at, and those sunny days (well, the few we get) make solar energy possible. But wind and sunshine are unpredictable. If the wind halts or clouds roll in, renewables take a hit, but the power grid still needs to keep our lights on. That’s when we rely on gas or other non-renewable energy sources to fill in the gaps.
Renewable energy isn't the only cost
Although, wind and solar power themselves are free once the infrastructure is up and running, building and maintaining that infrastructure is not cheap. Wind turbines, solar farms, and the energy storage systems needed for when the weather’s being uncooperative are expensive. And then there’s the cost of connecting these green power sources to the national grid—Northern Ireland’s grid wasn’t designed with wind and solar in mind. The upgrades needed to modernise the system is also costly.
It's all about the grid
Here’s the not-so-glamorous part: renewable energy is still relatively new on the scene, but the electricity grid itself is old. Think of it as trying to stream Netflix in HD on a dial-up internet connection. Our energy grid wasn’t built to handle the inconsistent flow of renewable energy, so we’re playing catch-up with investments to modernise it. That’s where part of your bill is going—future-proofing our power systems.
Storage and backup—not as simple as plugging in a phone
We can’t store large amounts of renewable energy as easily as we can charge our smartphones (yet). Windy Sunday but no one’s home? Tough luck, because storing all that excess energy to use later is still tricky and costly. Until energy storage technology improves, we’re stuck needing traditional power sources to back things up, which keeps prices high.
Renewables are growing, but so are costs
The good news? We’re getting more and more of our power from renewables every year. The bad news? Energy prices are massively influenced by various global factors, including, gas markets, infrastructure, political decisions (we know, groan), as well as the costs of balancing the grid. It is a complex puzzle and while renewables are an important piece of the solution, they aren’t the whole picture, yet.
But there’s hope on the horizon!
It’s not all doom and gloom. As technology improves, costs will eventually come down. More efficient batteries, smarter grids, and continued investment in renewable infrastructure will gradually help bring the price of power down. And remember, while your bill might not have taken the nosedive you were hoping for, renewables are helping to save the planet.
So, what can you do?
You can’t control the wind or the sun (wouldn’t that be handy!), but you can take control of your energy consumption. Taking simple steps such as switching to energy-efficient appliances, using your washing machine/tumble dryer during off-peak hours, and even considering adding solar panels to your home can make a big difference.
And, of course, you can choose an energy supplier (hint, hint) that’s committed to keeping prices as low as possible, all while helping Northern Ireland make the switch to greener, cleaner energy. We’re here to make that transition smoother—one wind turbine at a time!
That’s why at Share Energy, we’re working hard to bring you energy that’s sustainable, affordable, and as green as the hills of Northern Ireland (but, you know, without the rain).
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