For more than 6 hours last Sunday, the UK wholesale power prices dipped into negative pricing.
The UK's energy price fell to -£50/MWh from the settlement period 21 (10:00 - 10:30am) and remained negative all the way until 4:30pm.
Unseasonably sunny and warm weather causing the unexpected change in usual supply and demand levels. The sun delivering a higher than normal solar power output, peaking at 7.7GW, more than double the seasonal average of 3.5GW. While the public went outdoors to enjoy the sun, reducing demand.
Limejump's energy trading team noted that the price fell as low as -£70.24/MWh during settlement periods 28 and 29.
National Grid’s ESO Control Room tweeting that Sunday morning electricity demand was at 30.7GW at 10am and 31.2GW at 11am, a noticeable drop from 34GW of demand that the previous Sunday experienced during the same time period.
Wind power was always generating a good amount, combining with solar to provide more than 49% of the countries power.
The UK had two instances of negative wholesale prices last year, in both January and August, due to surging wind production.
These sort of situations show the positive growth of clean renewables within the UK, and how they can supply sizable portion of our power supply. However, it also clearly highlights the unpredictable and unreliable nature they have too.