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Ministers talking claptrap
The SNP clearly do not have a credible policy on anything, but the ‘Renewables Powerhouse’ claptrap being put forward by Alex Salmond and his ‘Energy Minister’, Jim Mather, takes their ineptitude to a new level.
Mr Mather said that “renewables, such as wind and wave power, will be able to make up the shortfall when Scotland’s nuclear plants close”. His clear lack of understanding of how our electricity supply is achieved beggars belief, but probably explains why he got the job.
The grid operators have to plan 48 hours in advance where every half-hour of electricity is going to come from. Just how can wind or wave power fit into that rigid regime when they are so unpredictable? The load factor for Torness and Hunterston varies between 85% and 90% and wind power in Scotland is about 30%. Wave power is even less reliable and not even worth considering.
Germany has 20,000 wind turbines and yet they are building more gas-fired power stations to provide the necessary back-up. Surely this is a wake-up call to the new tenants at Holyrood.
It has been said that if you become a leader in Scotland you will be followed by a pack of yapping dogs. When our lights begin to flicker because of this renewables nonsense, I wonder how long it will be before Mr Salmond feels their teeth? – Yours etc,
Bob Graham, Chairman of Highlands Against Windfarms, Craigsview, Inchberry, Orton.
1 June 2007
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