European country to give free electricity instead of switching off wind turbines(euronews.com)
euronews.com
European country to give free electricity instead of switching off wind turbines
https://www.euronews.com/2026/03/27/european-country-vows-to-give-homeowners-free-electricity-instead-of-switching-off-wind-tu
4 comments
Crazy business idea. When the wind power exceeds demand save the excess in a battery and replay it later. No curtailment needed.
The only kind of battery capable of reliably doing what you describe is a sand battery, and there are currently only 2 in the world, and they are in Finland.
https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21871
https://www.uniladtech.com/news/tech-news/world-largest-sand...
https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21871
https://www.uniladtech.com/news/tech-news/world-largest-sand...
Is it not clear yet that the fossil fuel crisis is of a nation's own choice and making?
The issue with gas is Europe's own choice, which also makes this not true:
> "However, an analysis from the University of Oxford has found that maximising oil and gas extraction here would only save UK households up to £82 (€95) per year."
UK and Europe could produce a lot of gas and could then decide at what price to sell it locally, it would not have to be at international markets' prices.
It is policy not to do either in order to decarbonise. Certainly it is understandable not to encourage people to use gas, but on the other hand countries are reliant on gas and have then to import it...
> "However, an analysis from the University of Oxford has found that maximising oil and gas extraction here would only save UK households up to £82 (€95) per year."
UK and Europe could produce a lot of gas and could then decide at what price to sell it locally, it would not have to be at international markets' prices.
It is policy not to do either in order to decarbonise. Certainly it is understandable not to encourage people to use gas, but on the other hand countries are reliant on gas and have then to import it...