Energy- Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor

All at sea

To quote from the Welsh Government’s very own document titled, ‘Energy Generation in Wales 2021’ which states on page three, “Wales remains a net exporter of electricity, generating nearly twice as much electricity as it consumes on an annual basis. Wales generated a total of 27.1 TWh of electricity in 2021, 7.7 TWh of which came from renewables and 19.5 TWh from fossil fuels. Wales is estimated to have consumed in the order of 14 TWh of electricity in 2021, up from 13.8 TWh the previous year.”

   It begs the question of why the need for weather dependent, unreliable onshore and offshore wind farms when Wales is a net exporter of electricity! Every power engineer knows that generation should be as close as possible to the user so as to minimise power loss (heat) in the distribution cables. To be sure, a floating wind farm out in the Celtic Sea is an absurdity, as apart from cost treacherous weather, and threat to marine life, there is the question of power loss – it is a long way to England unless the power is intended solely for west Wales, which definitely does not need this energy, as there is a 2000MW CCGT Power Station located in Pembrokeshire.

   Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change, wrote the ministerial foreword for the Welsh Government document, therefore surely the minister understands that if Wales generated purely for its own needs, it would cut gas generation and locate renewables nearer demand, other than Wales; it will certainly minimise power loss and the industrialisation of our beautiful countryside and coastline, Therefore I wonder if Julie James MS can kindly explain to readers why this is not seen as a viable option?

Dave Haskell

Brithdir

Cardigan

SA43 1ER

Tel: 01239 614671