Sir – Those who promote renewable energy wind and solar, fail to understand how the supply of electricity works.

Electrical power supply is an on-demand system, as you cannot store electricity it has to be generated and used at the same time.

The National Grid knows from past data when peaks occur and can therefore respond by bringing increased generation on stream. Renewable energy is a when-and-if system, as wind and solar are erratic they are not capable of predictable or on-demand supply.

Those who think renewables supply electricity are mistaken, they only compliment in very small amounts to a capable generation infrastructure. So why invest money in a system that is not fit for purpose?

Because the developers are receiving large subsidies sanctioned by incompetent government and paid by consumers through their energy bills, one of the reasons why energy bills are high. If you want reliable renewable energy go for tidal generation as the tide moves in and out twice a day, large amounts of electricity can be generated at a known time, thus replacing land-based generation. Tidal generation would be very expensive to build.

I am concerned with global warming through excess CO2 emissions but what is the point in closing coal power stations in this country, compromising our generating capability, when China and India are opening coal power stations at the rate of two a week.

If we want to reduce CO2 emissions and give a sustainable future for generations to come, we need to act as a global entity but running around like headless chickens making everybody’s life a misery through large energy bills does nothing to sustain the future.

M. Palmer, Witney