Letter: Are windfarms the only way?

Letter: As a regular holiday visitor driving through Shropshire to West Wales I have been saddened by the growing number of unnecessary windfarms along my favourite routes.

The excuse for constructing these monstrosities is that they "combat climate change".

It is not explained that they are supposed to do this by reducing the carbon emissions from a fossil-fuel power station nor is it explained that since the wind does not blow at the required strength all the time, and sometimes does not blow at all, then each windfarm has to be partnered by a fossil-fuel station ready to supply electricity when the winds fail and to supply the necessary carbon emissions for the windfarm to reduce when the winds pick up again.

Furthermore, it is not mentioned that since the average "Load Factor" of an onshore windfarms is only 25 per cent then the windfarm can only ever reduce the carbon emissions of its partner fossil-fuel station by a measly 25 per cent.

It is worth noting that replacing the fossil fuel plant with a carbon-clean nuclear plant will reduce the emissions to zero and eliminate the need for four windfarms – as well as the partner fossil fuel station!

These facts seem to have bypassed the thought processes of politicians who appear to be more concerned with manipulating expenses than they are with supplying us with a carbon clean, reliable electricity supply.

William Oxenham

Edinburgh