Wind Generation
Electricity produced from wind turbines
What is it?
Wind Generation is the amount of electricity produced by wind turbines connected to the GB grid. The UK has one of the largest offshore wind fleets in the world, with total installed capacity exceeding 30 GW.
Wind generation is tracked separately for onshore and offshore wind, as they have different generation profiles and cost structures. Offshore wind is typically more consistent but more expensive.
Key Points
Unit
MW (megawatts) or MWh (energy over time)
Update Frequency
Half-hourly (48 readings per day)
UK Capacity (2024)
~30 GW total (14 GW offshore, 16 GW onshore)
Share of Generation
~25-30% of GB electricity (varies seasonally)
Why It Matters
Wind generation data is critical for several market functions:
- 1Price Impact: High wind output suppresses wholesale prices (price cannibalization)
- 2Capture Price: Used to calculate what wind generators actually earn vs baseload
- 3Carbon Intensity: Higher wind = lower grid carbon intensity
- 4Balancing: Wind variability creates imbalance risk and trading opportunities
Cannibalization effect: Wind typically captures only 85-95% of the baseload price because prices drop when wind output is high.
When It's Used
PPA Settlement
Wind generation data is essential for calculating capture prices used in as-generated PPAs. The wind shape factor (capture/baseload) directly affects settlement values.
ESG Reporting
Companies track when their consumption coincides with wind generation to claim carbon-free energy matching on an hourly basis (24/7 matching).
Trading & Forecasting
Short-term traders use wind forecasts and actuals to predict price movements. High wind forecast = likely lower prices.
API Endpoint
GET /uk/generation/wind/latestReturns the most recent wind generation data.
{
"data": [{
"timestamp": "2024-12-20T14:00:00Z",
"settlement_period": 28,
"wind_total_mw": 12450,
"wind_onshore_mw": 5200,
"wind_offshore_mw": 7250
}],
"unit": "MW",
"source": "NESO"
}