Why do Malcolm Parkin (Letters, February 12) and many others keep going on about the need for small nuclear reactors because the wind does not blow all the time, as if there were no other highly successful ways to produce energy
Have they never heard of the numerous other means of production? What about pumped storage? Nearly 50 years ago, I visited the Cruachan pumped storage site and learned how that could, when demand is high, release the water to produce electricity to fill any shortfall, and pump it back up to store for the next use. There are already places in Scotland where small, local, pumped storage systems are in operation and numerous larger ones are in construction, or operational, such as Foyers on Loch Ness. These systems could power millions of homes, wind or no wind.
Mr Parkin and others seem unaware that there are wave-powered and tidal systems already operating in Scotland and being further developed, for example around Orkney and the Pentland Firth. These have the advantage that there are two tides a day and constant waves all round our coasts, which would never stop providing energy. Such projects could have been much further advanced had Westminster not, years ago, withdrawn the funding for a major one of these schemes, thus retarding progress. Nevertheless, Scotland is a world leader in these technologies, providing 50% of the world’s such energy.
What need is there to consider any form of nuclear reactor? Whilst nuclear power produced may be clean, the building process and materials have an exorbitant cost, take years, and are highly carbon-producing. Storage of waste presents an insurmountable problem, with severe risks for centuries. Witness the ongoing occasional discovery of radioactive particles contaminating the beaches around Dounreay, years after the plant closed.
Small nuclear reactors are not yet fully developed, and our taxes are currently contributing to the "UK-wide" project, Hinckley Point reactor in South-east England, already 10 years late, nearly three times the original cost and still not completed. Moreover, we are now to share the cost of Sizewell C, of the same outdated design in the same area, final cost and operation date still unknown.
Meantime, Scottish renewables producers pay an exorbitant sum to connect to the Grid, whence 40% of their product goes to England, while our consumers pay the highest costs in Europe, and perhaps the world. Rather than moaning about wind energy and supporting nuclear, Mr Parkin and friends might ask why the Scottish Government does not receive payment for this export – an income which could help speed up our transition and make wind turbines eventually obsolete.
L McGregor, Falkirk.
Read more letters
- What’s the point of BBC licence when there’s Netflix?
- So dualling the A9 is a priority? We'll believe it when we see it
- BBC must face the music, it doesn’t play enough jazz
• Willie Maclean (Letters, February 14) attributes Norway’s low electricity costs to public ownership of generation and infrastructure. He either overlooks, or chooses not to mention, a far more significant factor; Norway’s geography and topography are exceptionally well suited to the large-scale hydropower which it has developed.
Hydro generation in Norway amounts to around 140TWh per annum. In Scotland, the comparable figure is 5TWh. Unlike wind generation, hydro electricity is generated consistently, reducing the need for expensive backup capacity.
It is also worth noting that Iceland and New Zealand, through a combination of hydropower and geothermal generation, are also largely self-sufficient in low-carbon electricity at relatively low cost – again reflecting favourable natural conditions.
The narrative that Scotland is uniquely blessed with renewable resources, and that high electricity prices are solely the result of decisions taken at Westminster, is political rhetoric promoted by those seeking support for Scottish independence. It is not supported by the evidence.
George Rennie, Inverness.
The Subway mystery tour
The Commonwealth Games starts on July 23. Assuming that the visitors can navigate the building site that is Glasgow city centre, presumably some of these visitors will be using the Subway.
Even though the Subway trains are new, there is still no provision for next station announcement. Some drivers do this, others don’t and the screens on the coaches only show a static map and an ad for the SPT Twitter page. Why are there no recorded announcements backed up by visual announcements on screens?
I look forward to hearing the SPT's excuses as to why those with impaired vision and visitors are being disadvantaged and why these most basic of features weren’t built into the trains at the design stage.
Stuart Neville, Clydebank.
Support for licence campaign
As the parent of a young person about to take their driving test, I wholeheartedly endorse Alan Knox’s campaign for the introduction of graduated driving licences and would urge politicians of all parties to get behind this ("Grieving father calls for Scotland to be able to ‘pursue reform’ on driving licences", The Herald, February 16).
I have huge admiration for Mr Knox’s selfless determination to prevent further loss of young lives given the personal tragedy he has faced.
Duncan F MacGillivray, Dunoon.
Good seconds come first
The manner of Scotland's Calcutta Cup win at Murrayfield – in contrast to the performance in Italy – backs up my belief that the criticism of Gregor Townsend has always been misplaced ("Townsend puts the noise on pause with win", Herald Sport, February 16).
Winning at the game of rugby depends on having, at the very least, 50/50 possession of the ball from the set piece and on the ground. Despite a small pool of players, Townsend has consistently put together an outstanding backline; capable of playing rugby which is a pleasure to watch and is, at the same time, capable of breaching any defence. But those players cannot perform without the ball.
The difference on Saturday was that those playing in the second row gave outstanding performances. History tells us that every single one of the truly great teams have been built around outstanding second row players. Mori Itoji is meant to be one of the very best who have played the game. He came undone in this match and look what happened. Serious commentators on the game should never criticise a Scotland coach because his team does not win championships. That is, not unless Scotland finds a conveyor belt of large and talented rugby players to fill the nos. 4 and 5 shirts. And that will not happen. Even if Franko Smith is put in charge.
Ian Stein, Dunblane.
Piling up on Napoleon
I refer to Neil Mackay's article on the subject of dithering by leaders leading to them failing to seize the moment ("Is the SNP still actually interested in delivering Scottish independence?", The Herald, February 14). He cites Napoleon as an example with his conduct at Waterloo.
However, he failed to get to the bottom of it. Napoleon took a break at a critical point leaving matters to his deputy, Marshall Ney, who was mistaken in taking a British movement as a retreat and led an attack which turned out to be disastrous. If Napoleon had remained on site, things might have been different.
It has been reported that he was unable to sit on his horse for long periods because he was suffering from thrombosed haemorrhoids. Those who have experienced such a condition know that is not a pile of fun. But for Napoleon’s indisposition we might all have been speaking French today. Yes, that was the end of "Old Boney" in more ways than one.
Ian W Thomson, Lenzie.
Share