Power shift

IN YOUR report on a proposed undersea cable (12 July) you quote Lang Banks of the environmental campaign group WWF Scotland referring to cutting climate change – presumably by deploying more renewable generation of electricity. In fact, while renewable generation has increased, so have Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions. One reason might be that the back-up (thermal) generation required by renewables emits more CO2 than if it were allowed to operate continuously and efficiently. Renewable generation does nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and may even be increasing it.

Mr Banks also refers to the UK’s “renewable electricity needs”. The UK does not need electricity from renewables; it only needs electricity from reliable and economical sources. 

Steuart Campbell

Dovecot Loan
Edinburgh