Campbeltown Courier - Letters to the Editor 26.04.24

Unreliable and intermittent wind and solar energy not the answer

Eco-warriors need to climb out of their rabbit holes and praise the UK for the closure of dirty coal-fired power stations, whilst at the same time recognise the need for the cleaner gas-fired power stations of the combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) variety, that is, until truly environmentally-friendly power stations become a reality. 

Unreliable and intermittent large scale wind and solar, including dirty, potentially dangerous, and horrendously costly fission stations are not the answer.

To be sure, all eco-warriors should focus their attention on China that had added 47.4 gigawatts (GW) of potential coal power in 2023. 

Indeed, data from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM) have indicated that global coal capacity outside China has increased since 2019. 

It should be noted that GEM is a San Francisco–based non-governmental organisation, which catalogues fossil fuel and renewable energy projects worldwide; the organisation shares information in support of clean energy and its data/reports on energy trends are widely cited by governments, media, and academic researchers.

Countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Greece, Zimbabwe and South Korea have all increased their coal capacity, which begs the question: “Why are eco-fanatics picking on the UK, which is only responsible for about one per cent of global emissions?” 

Is it due to their lack of education that they do not understand percentages, geography, physics and global issues?

Dave Haskell, Cardigan.