REBECCA McQuillan’s article (“Renewable power is cheap so why are we being
ripped off?”,The Herald, June 3) exhibited a very poor level of background
research and a too-ready acceptance of renewable energy industry myth and
misconception.
Even a cursory examination of recent wind farm operators’ accounts lodged
at Companies House or a quick review of the various papers authored by
Professor Gordon Hughes of the University of Edinburgh would reveal that
the capital and operating costs of wind power are far greater than those of
coal or gas and marginally more than nuclear when the relatively short
lives of wind power assets are considered and the intermittent generating
performance and resulting poorer energy yield of wind turbines are taken
into account.
If wind power is “low cost”, why are China, India and the whole Pacific Rim
currently building scores of coal and gas-fired power stations? Are these
countries ignoring a low-cost option? Germany and Denmark are champions of
wind power. Is it just coincidence that – before the current energy
industry turmoil – they had the two most expensive electricity prices in
the world?
There would be no wind or solar industry at all if the participants hadn’t
been lavished with scores of billions in Government subsidies over the life
of the industry so far. Due to activist hysteria and Government ignorance,
oil and gas extraction has been demonised, supply has shrunk, demand has
remained the same or greater and, as a direct result, oil and gas prices
have rocketed. This distorted market now means that gas-based electricity
generation now costs as much as wind-derived electricity always has. If the
wind industry is now paying back into the public coffers it is not before
time.
The recent and very low CfD prices for new wind farm projects require
closer examination. Do not be misled that this indicates any decrease in
cost. These CfD figures are prices, not cost. The cost of wind-generated
electricity is way above the CfD prices. Again, the information to verify
this is easily available. Unless these ventures intend to lose millions of
pounds per week when they commence operation, it is as good as certain that
the operators concerned will merely exit their CfD contracts for the small
penalty payable and commence new negotiations with the energy market
geniuses working for the various governments. If, by that time, even more
gas and nuclear generating assets have been decommissioned, it could be
that we will have to pay the wind operators whatever they ask for. Maybe
this was always their plan.
Activism, Government ignorance and media laziness are combining to propel
Britain into a cul-de-sac of intermittent and extremely expensive power
that will place millions of ordinary folk in “heat or eat” difficulties
which will get steadily worse as energy costs create irresistible cost
pressures and widespread economic damage.
“Why are we being ripped off?”– we have government hierarchies which lack
technical and economic understanding and whic can’t say “No” to noisy and
aggressive activists. We also have journalists who don’t ask the right
questions.
Andy Cartwright, Glasgow.
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