Record year for wind power in Great Britain in 2024

However, there are of course less windy periods when electricity generation from wind drops. In the longer term, these gaps could be filled using emerging green technologies, such as batteries, to store energy during windier times.

There could also be extra incentives for people to use electricity during windy periods, for example by offering cheaper prices.

But for now, gas power stations, a ready source of on-demand energy, need to be fired up to fill the gaps. For three consecutive days between 11-13 December, for example, more than 60% of electricity generation came from gas as wind output dropped.

In its plan for meeting the 2030 clean energy target published last month, the government committed to keeping a reserve capacity of gas power stations for this purpose.

Last month Claire Coutinho, Conservative shadow secretary of state for energy security, said Labour’s “rush” to decarbonise the electricity system by 2030 would push up electricity prices and cause more hardship for people across Britain.

“We need cheap, reliable energy – not even higher bills,” she said.