Letter: Energy costs

WWF International highlights the apparent incompatibility of the proposed coal power plant at Hunterston with targets to reduce carbon emissions (your report, 13 August).

It is ironic that a coal plant will be constructed near a decommissioned nuclear plant which has provided carbon-free energy for many years. For comparison, an unabated 1,000 MW coal plant will emit 7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide as a gas into the atmosphere each year. An equivalent nuclear plant will produce 25 tonnes (about three cubic metres) of spent fuel in sold metal form which can be separated from the environment, stored and re-used.

The respected Parsons Brinckerhoff energy report (2010 update) puts the future levelised cost of nuclear energy at 6-8 p/kWh and coal with carbon capture at 10-16 p/kWh.

Carbon capture is potentially an important technology for the future and its commercial demonstration is to be welcomed. However, I fear it is being advocated in Scotland mainly to indulge dogmatic views on nuclear energy.

COLIN R McINNES

Williamwood Park West

Glasgow