Sir, Your leader (“Wanted: an Energy Policy”, May 13) is a good summary of the dire situation politicians of all stripes have allowed to develop. Any government will find it embarrassing to back down from the obligations on emissions and renewable energy set by the Committee on Climate Change; however, there must be many in Westminster who now realise the futility of current policy.
Meanwhile, the government encourages renewable energy by providing the public subsidy which makes it seem economic. The German situation should be a warning. It subsidises very large numbers of wind and solar energy installations, which either swamp the grid or provide almost no electricity, depending on the weather, and therefore need a high level of conventional backup.
The reaction to the Fukushima accident hastened the closure of Germany’s nuclear reactors which provided reliable, affordable, low-carbon energy. These are being replaced by stations burning brown coal, one of the dirtiest energy sources imaginable, and German consumers pay some of the highest energy prices in the EU.
At least the Germans are building new power stations. If next winter is a cold one, the 2015 UK election could well be won by the party with a realistic energy policy that will keep the lights on.
Martin Livermore
Cambridge
Sir, It is untrue that investment in electricity has halted — there has been significant investment in the UK’s renewable energy capacity in the last few years. Renewables now account for around 15 per cent of our electricity.
Second, power cuts in 2015-16 are not “virtually inevitable”. While capacity margins are falling, blackouts would be a worst-case scenario. Short-term measures are being put in place by the National Grid to avoid this, though they are far from ideal. Even if shale gas is developed in the UK, it is unlikely to have a large impact on our energy supplies or prices for many years, and we will have to limit use of gas to tackle climate change.
Professor Jim Watson
UK Energy Research Centre
Sir, The complexities of the energy industry lead the sane to believe in fairies that will deliver us from high prices, a war somewhere, climate change, acid rain, etc: nuclear fusion, the Severn Barrage, low energy light bulbs, hydrogen, and now shale gas. Shale gas is important, but it cannot solve all our energy problems. It will be not very green and quite expensive. Energy policy has real problems. It is like real life — boring, complicated, requiring difficult choices, never-quite-finished, and expensive.
Dr Robert Gross
Centre for Energy Policy and Technology, ICL
Sir, The government has attracted £45 billion of investment in UK energy since 2010. We have planned a nuclear power station and doubled the electricity from renewables. We plan to maximise North Sea oil and gas, and we’re supporting domestic shale gas. This year we hold the first capacity auction, which will incentivise investment in gas-fired power stations.
The UK is rated the fourth most energy secure nation on earth by the US Chamber of Commerce, and Ernst and Young has assessed us as one of the five most attractive locations for investment in renewables. We have set a clear path for investment and generation that will keep the lights on, reduce reliance on imports and increase supplies of secure energy — a very substantial energy policy indeed.
Edward Davey, MP
Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Sir, You emphasise fracking but do not mention nuclear power, which is secure, predictable and not subject to fluctuations in fuel price, as gas is. Nuclear can provide long-term security of supply with very low carbon emissions. It could play a dominant role in saving the world from the increasing reliance on fossil fuels.
Emeritus Professor Ian Fells
Newcastle upon Tyne
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