The Government proclaims a commitment to tackling global warming by reducing Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and by supporting the development of "green" and "renewable" sources of energy production.

One method is Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCS.While technically this is not a renewable system, it is potentially of great value in the effort to reduce CO2 emission levels. The Treasury put aside £1billion to support potential developers. When one of the two original potential applicants pulled out, it would be reasonable to think that the Treasury would award the grant to the only remaining entrant – the ScottishPower proposal for Longannet coal-fired power station. The carbon-capture element has been shown to work in a pilot trial, a superb storage site has been identified and the connecting system planned using existing pipelines. However the Energy Secretary, Chris Huhne, has confirmed this project will not be funded because the costs have not been worked out (not true) and the distance between Longannet and the storage site is too great, which is rubbish (“Scottish fury mounts over Longannet ‘kick in teeth’”, The Herald, October 20 and Letters). There has been a document published giving the project costs and the total comes to £1.05billion, close to the sum available. The Treasury now says it would have to add £300m in case the project overruns and an additional 15% because it does not believe the document costings. Chris Huhne said an alternative CCS project would be considered for Peterhead (gas-fired) power station, a scheme that was rejected four years ago because of problems with Treasury funding.

There is an international race to develop CCS and it looks as if the Treasury is waiting for another country to develop the system and buy the technology from abroad , as happened with wind power.

Peterhead is the only CCS project being developed for a gas fired power station.

The new Electricity Marketing Plan will put a tax on CO2 emissions, meaning coal-fired power will cease by 2025 because of cost, unless CCS is developed.

The cost of developing CCS is about the same as is applied to subsidising the development of offshore wind power.

As far as renewable energy is concerned, it would seem reasonable to suppose that development would be supported in regions with the greatest potential.

The Met Office has confirmed that Scotland is the windiest country in Europe with potentially 25% of wind resources. Scotland also has 10% of wave energy resources, and 25% of tidal energy resources in Europe. When trying to develop these resources Scotland seems to be facing unfair disadvantages.

On wind power:

n Energy produced in the Western Isles, Shetland and offshore anywhere in Scotland is charged up to £70 per kilowatt generated for connection to the National grid. From the North Highlands the charge is £20.54 per kilowatt. In Central London it is subsidised at £8.78/Kw (£10.60 elsewhere in southern England).

On wave and tidal power:

n The 1.6 gigawatt wave and tidal generating systems planned for Orkney Islands and the Pentland Firth will have to pay £56 million a year for connection to the National Grid, whereas a similar plant in the south-west coast of England would receive a subsidy of £11 million a year.

Scotland, with 10% of Britain’s power generation, is paying 75% of the UK charges.

Energy is reserved by the Westminster Government and the evidence suggests discrimination against Scotland in efforts to develop renewable energy sources.

Dr Evan L Lloyd,

72 Belgrave Road, Edinburgh.

The scrapping of the carbon capture project at Longannet is yet another factor fuelling my fears for the adequacy of electricity supplies in Scotland in the future. Another is the withdrawal of Scottish & Southern Energy from building nuclear power stations in England.

Alex Salmond’s illogical refusal to allow nuclear power stations to be built in Scotland will one day result in black-outs because his vision of a Scotland being 100% reliant on renewables is pie in the sky .

Paradoxically, there is a small silver lining. The grid connection across the Border is quite strong, thanks to the vision of past electrical organisations when nationalised and not privately owned. Consequently Scottish electricity users will continue to be supported by nuclear electricity generated south of the Border.

John Lewis,

19 Hawthorn Drive, Ayr.

We are being urged to switch power supply companies to save money. According to the figures quoted by Keith Dryburgh of Citizens’ Advice Scotland “Price hikes that leave worst off out in the cold”, The Herald, October 20) and others, with the sole exception of ScottishPower average dual-fuel costs with the other major companies are within approximately £50 of each other. It would seem that the only variation is in the timing of price rises, and that the effort involved in frequent switching while avoiding tariff exit penalties for a likely gain of about 4% is probably not worth the candle. Fixed tariffs can work, but a crystal ball is required.

If the figures are correct, it would seem that the simple option is just to make sure that you are on the best tariff offered by your current provider – usually online, dual fuel if appropriate and direct debit. The comparison sites offer a snapshot, so it is entirely possible that the change you made this month to save money will be the more expensive option next month.

Ian Szymanski,

152 East Princes Street, Helensburgh.

With energy prices virtually out of control for many in the UK, surely the Government can at least take two small actions which would help many without damaging their policy. The winter fuel allowance for the elderly, so appallingly reduced this year, should be restored to £250 with money coming from making the payment to UK pensioners living in the UK only and not to those living in such “cold countries” of Spain, Portugal, Florida, Cyprus and other destinations. And the Government should say now it will not raise fuel tax this or next year, immediately cancelling the unpopular and unfair “green lobby” fuel tax rise planned for January. These two policy changes would help to make life a little more secure.

Iain J McConnell,

Speedybank, Gifford.