Wind generation has delivered a net benefit of £104 billion to UK consumers between 2010 and 2023, according to new research by University College London (UCL).
The study found that wind power lowered electricity prices by £14 billion and reduced natural gas costs by £133 billion, partially offset by £43 billion in subsidies. It concludes that sustained investment in wind has significantly reduced overall fossil fuel dependence and household energy bills.
Researchers modelled long-term market impacts, comparing the UK’s existing renewable investment with a scenario in which gas generation continued to dominate. They found that without wind, gas demand would have been far higher across Europe, pushing up prices and overall consumer costs.
“It is clear that wind generators reduce market prices, cannibalising their own revenues, creating value for others while limiting their own profitability. Wind power should be viewed as a public good-like roads or schools-where government support leads to national gains,” the report said.
The study warns that the current funding model, where electricity users bear the cost while gas users benefit, raises fairness concerns. It calls for strategic energy policy reform to align investment incentives with long-term national interests.
Partner Will Glover from Gowling WLG said: “This study reinforces the legal and economic case for accelerating renewable investment. The scale of savings highlights wind power’s strategic value, not just for energy security, but for fiscal resilience. Policymakers and investors alike must now treat renewables not as an alternative, but as a national imperative.”
The UCL report concludes that the energy transition is not a costly environmental subsidy but a compelling financial investment that strengthens both energy security and economic stability.