Sir – In his article on Didcot Power Station, Chris Koenig calls for a clear energy policy (The energy gap issue, September 27).
While Germany and Japan shut down dangerous nuclear and coal power stations and embrace clean solar, ocean, geothermal and wind power, the UK dithers.
From studies for our electric Foodtubes-The Transport Internet project, we found that renewable energy is no more expensive or less reliable than traditional reliance on burning stuff to make steam to drive turbines.
We do need a mix of power sources, but the UK is well located to excel globally in ocean and wind power and even to develop solar energy. (The Foodtubes Project, www.noelhodson.com/index_files/foodtubes-sponsors.htm.)
Building homes, creating a lucrative theme park and making the Didcot site into a centre and exemplar for renewable energy are not mutually exclusive.
The six cooling towers could be clad in shining, solar panels and carry numbers of powerful wind turbines. A single two-megawatt wind turbine can power 480 to 800 homes (an average home pays £1,000 a year for energy). Civil engineers could, and should, design the optimum mix of these three prime uses, working with a successful theme park operator.
Do create more wealth and jobs at Didcot: don’t demolish valuable infrastructure.
Noel Hodson, Oxford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel