If An Energy Company Says That All Electricity Supply Is 100% Renewable, Why Is It Still So Expensive?

[dave50]

They are not burning expensive fossil fuel for generation so I assume it's wind, which is free.

[bobbinwales]

Whywouldwind power be free. They need to be built and maintained. The power needs to be transported.idont think its really 100% renewable or you'd have no power on windless or sunless days

[barry1010]

The energy they buy is 100% renewable, but the energy you get in your home isn't. We still import electricity as far as I know, from France and the Netherlands. The UK still only has approximately 41% renewable energy.

[barry1010]

Renewable energy isn't just from wind turbines - it includes solar, hyrdro-electricity, bioelectricity from burning organic matter and tidal energy.
It is all costing a huge amount of money to get up and running.

[Gromit]

We are currently using 20% wind and 16% imported.

https://www.energydashboard.co.uk/live

[barry1010]

Those figures include gas.

[DTCwordfan]

who said that fossil fuel is expensive in relationship to renewables...the latter don't come cheap - think of the high capital cost that has to be recovered, even allowing for depreciation and then there are the connection charges to the grid and all the marketing/trading costs to be added.

[barry1010]

There was a very good documentary about renewable energy presented by Guy Martin. I wasn't looking forward to it but it was very informative and well presented - the cost of investing in renewables was explained. It's a two parter https://www.channel4.com/programmes/guy-martins-great-british-power-trip

[gingejbee]

Isn't the question similar to....since rain falls from the heavens at no cost, why do we have to pay for a water supply?

[barry1010]

I've never understood motorists who complain about paying for air to blow their tyres up. Try doing it without the machine if you don't want to pay

[ToraToraTora]

renewable does not mean free does it.

[New Judge]

//...bioelectricity from burning organic matter//

Please don't start me off about the scandal that is Drax, Barry !

[bobbinwales]

Yes I forgot to add that the electricity you get is the same electricity that all your neighbors get ...it don't matter who there supplier is.

[Old_Geezer]

Well, barry, I think it is because it used to be a universal thing that topping up your tyres was a draw to bring you in for fuel purchase too. Until that common thing occurred where they all suddenly decided they could actually charge for it instead. Removal of a mutally beneficial arrangement because someone thought the small cost of supply was a vital increase for their bottom line.

I do, do it myself. Electric air pumps aren't overly expensive and the use they get, they last decades, plus they allow folk to avoid hanging around the filling station pumping up tyres.

[Old_Geezer]

If energy can't be destroyed, why don't you use the same energy every day, and avoid all the bills ?

[Hymie]

Electrical energy is a commodity that has a market price (per MWh) regardless of how it is produced, which is why the price of electricity that is supposedly from 100% renewable sources is no cheaper (or more expensive) than that generated from say fossil fuels.

[ToraToraTora]

Surprised they haven't harnessed the energy released by the remoaners, must be an inexhaustible supply.

[Atheist]

Bora Bora Bora! LOL

[woodchopper]

They pay the same rate per MWH for every producer. Gas = most expensive v's the cheapest - both get paid the same rate. It's a mad world.

[Hopkirk]

If a company claims the power they supply is 100% from renewable sources, they are lying.
I don't know how they get away with it.

[bobbinwales]

There tcand Cs small print always clarify what they mean by 100% renewable...usually says something vague like 'backed by 100% renewable'...maybe they agree to plant some trees