A poor year for renewables – Herald (letters)

THE Digest of UK Energy Statistics covering 2016 has just been released and
it’s been a poor year for renewables. Wind generation fell by 7.3 per cent
even though the number of wind turbines rose by 13 per cent, due to wind
speeds “considerably lower” than in 2015. Hydro generation fell by 14 per
cent even though the number of small hydro schemes rose by 20 per cent, due
to “comparatively low” rainfall. Solar in the UK is a joke because while it
theoretically had 33 per cent of total renewable capacity it generated just
12 per cent, due to “shorter average hours of sunshine”. Wave power
generated nothing after having tens of millions of public money wasted on
it. Luckily gas power rose from 29 per cent of total generation to 42 per
cent to fill any gap.

The green dream of falling electrical demand due to “efficiency” has come
to a halt and indeed has been in reverse for two years running.

And only 8.9 per cent of energy came from renewables whereas the
“legally-binding” target is 15 per cent by 2020.

The usual renewables lobbyists have been keeping quiet.

Geoff Moore,
Braeface Park,
Alness.