Scottish wind farms were paid not to produce 37% of their planned output during the first half of this year, according to research from energy analytics firm Montel. These four terawatt hours of curtailed energy output would have been enough to power all Scottish homes for the entire six-month period.
This wasted energy could be put to better use by powering carbon capture and Direct Air Capture (DAC), or other energy intensive climate technologies.
For example, megatonnes of CO2 would be absorbed from the atmosphere by 2050 if California alone used the curtailed energy output from its solar farms to power DAC, according to the US Office of Science and Technical Information.
Shil Ghosh, COO and co-founder at Direct Air Capture provider Mission Zero Technologies (right), “Curtailing this renewable energy is an economic and environmental own goal – and all while many struggle to pay their energy bills and the grid faces more and more blackouts.
“Redirecting our excess electricity to power energy-intensive but vital climate technologies, like capturing carbon from our atmosphere, is the perfect use of this precious resource. Electrochemical Direct Air Capture is particularly suitable as it only needs electricity and can be quickly powered up or down, unlike some other carbon capture processes which require consistent heat or pressure.
“Integrating DAC into renewable generation sites delivers a two for one. It removes planet-warming atmospheric carbon at no extra cost while stabilising the energy grid — all without turning off renewables. Without sufficient battery storage surplus electricity has nowhere to go, causing voltage spikes and often blackouts.
“The UK is now at a pivotal moment. The US’ climate rollbacks are creating an opportunity for the UK to attract displaced scientists and engineers. The UK should be looking to turn this talent exodus into a competitive advantage – for economic growth, energy security, and our own net zero goals.”
