Why we all pay the hidden costs of 'free' wind-generated electricity

Published on Wednesday 9 January 2008 20:08

Lesley Riddoch says: "Some people hate wind farms. I have met few of them and am far more aghast at the recent hike in energy prices" (Opinion, 7 January).

The wind may be clean and free, but wind-generated electricity fed into the grid is neither because of the power station back-up required for such an unreliable source. Back-up is required because coal-fired stations cannot be rapidly adjusted to suit wind variation. Since there is no fossil displacement there are costs, monetary and in emissions. These costs are ignored in the claims of wind farm companies.

Government supports in the form of the Renewable Obligation and the Climate Change Levy ensure wind farm electricity sells for less than other generation. These subsidies are paid for by the consumer and play a part in recent price increases.

A public accounts committee report in 2005 claimed British taxpayers would subsidise wind farms by 6.5 billion by 2010 and that the Renewables Obligation would add 1 billion a year to electricity prices by then. The bill for renewable sources of energy will continue to soar after that, rising to 12.5 billion by 2015.

Edward Leigh, the committee chairman, said: "Consumers are providing a massive subsidy to the renewables industry, but, unlike public expenditure, this subsidy does not receive annual scrutiny by parliament. This is unacceptable."

A R NELSON

Scarletmuir

Lanark

In the face of increasing evidence of measurable increase in levels of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere and observable melting of the polar ice caps, Robert Pate tells us (Letters, 7 January) that the Russian Academy of Science forecasts a period of global cooling. The billions spent trying to prevent global warming have evidently been wasted. This will be good news for President George Bush and the governments of India and China.

Unfortunately, global warming, associated with massive combustion of diminishing fossil fuel reserves, is only one of many environmental problems linked to the population boom.

There is also a wide range of pollution problems involving waste disposal, including the irretrievable dispersion of essential metals in the environment. Our civilisation is running short of essential metals because they end up as environmental contaminants.

(DR) DAVID PURVES

Strathalmond Road

Edinburgh

The idea that nuclear power operators must "pay the price for nuclear energy" is being reported (8 January) as if it were an innovative imposition. Yet British Energy already incorporates an allowance in its operating cost to help pay for decommissioning its stations. In this way, a fund will be available to help pay for the ultimate safe disposal of stations and their waste.

This is not entirely fair on British Energy, which inherited the stations from the state without any transfer of the funds built up by the state for decommissioning. So in this case, the state should share the responsibility.

STEUART CAMPBELL

Dovecot Loan

Edinburgh

What is green about expanding Glasgow and Edinburgh airports? What is green about a new Forth road bridge? Especially as the government must know – it has plenty of expert advisers – that our oil and gas supplies will be running out in 10-15 years?

Why ask us to leave the car at home one day a week? What drop in what ocean is that compared to an increase in flights and road traffic?

RUTH MOROZZO

Minto Place

Hawick