Editor

In his reply to I Richard, your correspondent Gareth Kelly (14 January), displays extreme mathematical naivety in thinking that a “zero carbon economy” can be achieved from renewable energy and carbon capture.

Take electric vehicles. The insurmountable problem of EVs is that the electricity to power them in large numbers does not, and cannot ever exist in the UK, once we switch to renewable energy and close fossil fuel power stations.

The UK National Grid currently has around 77GW capacity,but only an average of 6GWcomes from wind energy. Under a large anticyclone, it is often only 2GW, from land and sea.

There are 40 million vehicles in the UK. If 30 million of those were Nissan Leafs, say, published statistics for this EV state that to fully charge its 40kWh battery needs a continuous 5kW for eight hours, to travel 150 miles a day. Therefore, 30 million Leafs clearly need a daily 150 GW charge at 5kW for 4 hours to travel a mere 75 miles a day.

Most of the Grid electricity will be needed in the evening, crashing the Grid!

However, in cold weather, the UK also needs 55GW minimum for its domestic, industrial and commercial needs.

Solar energy generates very little in winter and during cloudy or wet days at other times of year. Where is the “surplus electrical energy from strong sunlight”, Mr Kelly?

Lyn Jenkins Gwbert, Cardigan

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