Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information he holds on annual expenditure over the last five years on payments to wind farm operators to curtail electricity generation.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero does not directly hold information on payments to wind farm operators to curtail electricity generation. NESO publishes annually a report on balancing costs. The 2025 Balancing cost report provides information on all balancing costs including constraints. In 2024/25, wind generators were paid a total of £370 million to turn down, i.e. to generate less power. Conversely, the cost of actions to turn-up gas plants to replace curtailed generation was £910 million.