I MUST admit that I was disappointed with the reaction generated by my recent letter (August 28), where I warned that global reserves of coal could run out as early as 2040. That is the good news – but the bad news is that the world will have next to no electricity either.
Nearly 94 per cent of all electricity worldwide is produced by thermal power stations. The vast majority of these raise steam by burning coal and 360,000 billion tonnes of it will go up in smoke by 2040. The other main heat source for raising steam is nuclear fission but this method has had its day and is in decline, and nuclear fusion has always been 40 years away since I was a boy.
It is a pity that De Charles Wardrop (Letters, September 1) seems to have “skim read" my letter and missed the point – there will be no coal left anywhere on planet Earth in less than a generation or two, so pointing the finger of blame is not really helpful.
Neanderthal thinking that we have to burn stuff to generate heat to raise steam is putting us, and future generations, in peril of having no electricity at all. The key to a sustainable future is to raise “green steam'” from our plethora of intermittent renewables by harnessing their frictional heat, storing it as heat and converting this new heat source into electricity in our existing thermal power stations.
Without a constant supply of thermal electricity induced on to the windings of wind, wave and tidal turbines the wind can blow, the waves can “wave” and the tides can ebb and flow all they like and not one unit of electricity will be produced. The sooner we start producing secure cheap green electricity by friction 24-7 the better it will be for us all.
My advice to those who are contemplating buying an electric car is don't – because there will be no electricity available, or it will be too expensive to buy, to charge the battery pack within a few short years from now.
Andrew H Mackay,
Causewayside, Glenaldie, Tain.
I WAS pleased to read that Scotland is the most beautiful country in the world (“It’s official: Scotland is the most beautiful country in the world”, The Herald, September 4). The accolade is well deserved.
However, I can envisage problems with tourism when electric cars become mandatory.The North Coast 500 is being promoted; how many charging points will be required in order to maintain a flow of traffic along such a scenic route?
A colleague drove his electric car from Manchester to Glasgow, and required to make two stops on the way, having left with a full charge. That was travelling on the M6 where there were facilities at service stations.
I fear for the future of tourism in many areas, with queues of cars building up as they try to access a charging point.
The Government need to rethink this idea.
Gordon W Smith,
21 Baronscourt Gardens Paisley.
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