Editor

I’m rather surprised at the dismissive tone of I Richard (Letters, 31 December) towards low carbon generation. It is beyond reasonable scientific doubt that we need move towards a net zero carbon economy, which must include electricity generation.Hence, the technology which he belittles will have a major part to play.

There is no argument in the assertion that there will be occasions when wind and solar can make little contribution – overcast high-pressure periods in winter are obvious candidates for this.

Tidal power is a different matter for two reasons:

1. There are different tidal technologies: tidal streams(like ‘underwater wind farms’) generate most at mid-tide; tidal lagoons do so around high and low water.

2. There is not just one time of high and low water around our coasts. Even just in Wales, Fishguard is an hour later than Swansea, Aberystwyth 1 hr 40 min, Porthmadog just over two hours, Holyhead four hours and Bangor five hours.

I am not suggesting that all these locations are ideal for both technologies, or that sea power has negligible environmental impact but, with two full tides a day, the potential for continuous generation at a variety of locations is clear.

It is well known that electrical energy cannot be stored on the large scale. However, surplus electrical energy, generated in periods of strong or high sunlight can be used to store energy in other forms.

The Dinorwig pumped storage scheme is well known. Electricity can be also used to generate hydrogen (and oxygen) byelectrolysis – there is a pilot plant in North East England. Is this useful? It certainly is, for we shall need hydrogen for heating homes and for fuelling zero emissions vehicles, running on fuel cells.

These technologies, on their own, will not be enough to solve the environmental crisis. We shall probably need to employ carbon capture and storage too, but they will play a large part, with the precise mixture being a matter for research and debate.So less of the sneering please, I Richard.

What is also needed is a government in London with the vision to implement the changes to our infrastructure needed to achieve a zero net carbon economy, not a short-sighted one which pulls out of promising generating developments such as the Swansea tidal barrage.

Gareth Kelly Chair, Aberystwyth a Gogledd Labour Party

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