If the state of the Scottish energy grid is comparable to mainland Europe, then the prices go up due to increasing cost of infrastructure.
Renewables are a lot cheaper per kWh, but require a substantialy higher up front cost in infrastructure due to their decentralized nature.
Before renewables, the electricity only ever flowed in one direction, from the power plant down to the consumers. A few centralised main powerlines could deliver most of that.
With the increase in renewables that suddenly isn’t true anymore. Smal villages often are net positive, we’ve reached a point where even the medium voltage grid of entire regions is net positiv and the energy has to be transported somewhere else, sometimes even outside the country.
All this requires substantially more powerlines (or at least thicker ones, so still new cables). But more importantly, devices to measure the current load of the grid at all times and modernized equipment that can remotely be operated to respond to variing load.
Not to say that we should stop building renewables. All this infrastructure will be needed eventually eather way, but at least in the short term, investments will be needed regardless.
It could be a lot cheaper up in Scotland where it is often wasted. If it’s cheaper up there more industry will move up there and use more of that cheap electricity and it will mean less is wasted.
But this would benefit Scotland at the expense of England so it’s not going to happen. As such electrical prices are same around country which keeps jobs down south and electricity expensive.
Also the ‘price cap’ in the UK mainly just guarantees a minimum percentage profit added on top of what is otherwise a bunch of assumptions largely provided by the energy companies.
Then some how their costs almost always come in under the assumed numbers increasing their profit further, they don’t need to innovate cos their money is guaranteed.
Also the profit percentage added went up recently, because…
If the state of the Scottish energy grid is comparable to mainland Europe, then the prices go up due to increasing cost of infrastructure.
Renewables are a lot cheaper per kWh, but require a substantialy higher up front cost in infrastructure due to their decentralized nature.
Before renewables, the electricity only ever flowed in one direction, from the power plant down to the consumers. A few centralised main powerlines could deliver most of that.
With the increase in renewables that suddenly isn’t true anymore. Smal villages often are net positive, we’ve reached a point where even the medium voltage grid of entire regions is net positiv and the energy has to be transported somewhere else, sometimes even outside the country.
All this requires substantially more powerlines (or at least thicker ones, so still new cables). But more importantly, devices to measure the current load of the grid at all times and modernized equipment that can remotely be operated to respond to variing load.
Not to say that we should stop building renewables. All this infrastructure will be needed eventually eather way, but at least in the short term, investments will be needed regardless.
Wind power is paid for if it is used or not.
It could be a lot cheaper up in Scotland where it is often wasted. If it’s cheaper up there more industry will move up there and use more of that cheap electricity and it will mean less is wasted.
But this would benefit Scotland at the expense of England so it’s not going to happen. As such electrical prices are same around country which keeps jobs down south and electricity expensive.
Also the ‘price cap’ in the UK mainly just guarantees a minimum percentage profit added on top of what is otherwise a bunch of assumptions largely provided by the energy companies.
Then some how their costs almost always come in under the assumed numbers increasing their profit further, they don’t need to innovate cos their money is guaranteed.
Also the profit percentage added went up recently, because…