£1m payday for wind turbines

Windfarm operators in the north-east have received £1 million pounds since the start of the year to turn off their turbines in high winds.

Tullo, near Laurencekirk; Mid Hill, south west of Aberdeen; and Clashindarroch, near Huntly, all received hundreds of thousands of pounds in so-called “constraint payments”.

In gale force conditions, the National Grid is unable to cope with the energy produced and companies receive payments to shut down.

Nearly £5m was paid to energy firms, almost all in Scotland, for switching off turbines on October 8 as the country experienced high winds.

More than 60 farms were compensated after electricity supply outstripped demand.

Figures outstrip the previous single-day record of £3m, and have sparked criticism of the Scottish Government’s green energy policy.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government, said: “Wind energy is proven and is now the cheapest means of generating electricity.”