John Twidell takes on Roger Helmer

11.01.16am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 18th Aug 2008

Prof John Twidell of Rutland and Melton Lib Dems has taken on Conservative MEP Roger Helmer and his unorthodox view that climate change is not man made and new technology is not necessary. The exchange of views has taken place in the Leicester Mercury and John is winning hands down. Read one of John's letters below -

"We all know that wind has intrinsic variability and therefore strategies have to be adopted for reliable national electricity supply. Therefore, I was pleased to read MEP Roger Helmer's letter where he unwittingly acknowledges that very substantial proportions of wind power do not require extra back-up generation (Mailbox, August 8).

He says this is possible with wind capacity up 15 per cent of UK capacity (ie 9,000 MegaWatt wind power), whereas I would suggest 20 per cent (12,000 MW). His acknowledgement implies, and grid controllers agree, that about five times the current UK wind power capacity of 2,000 MW can be accepted into the National Grid without additional methods of control. The basic reason for this is that consumer demand has similar variability and so present control methods cope well.

I agree the control methods now in place for central generation have to be operated differently when future wind power exceeds 12,000 MW. Nevertheless, such methods are feasible and not impossible, as Roger Helmer says. The stochastic variability of wind power can be described very accurately, and its temporal variability is predictable as for weather. Electricity from wind on a distributed scale stops neither abruptly nor in large proportions (as from central nuclear and fossil-fuel stations at times), so planning for decreases and increases of wind on a national scale is relatively simple.

When the UK exceeds 12,000 MW of wind power nationally (about 4,000 turbines), there will be occasions when the whole UK has no wind in winter, and so new strategies are needed. There is time to work these out and they may well include construction of extra back-up, which can include biomass, hydro, pumped hydro and tidal reservoir plant, combined with substantial load management.

It is sad that a UK MEP should be so reactionary and sceptical of modern technology and modern technological challenge.

Of course, there has to be change and adaptation if renewable energy is to abate all fossil-fuels. This is an exciting challenge along predictable pathways requiring young brains and new forms of employment.

We have to adapt from a polluting past to a sustainable future.

Prof John Twidell, Horninghold. "

See more on the Leicester Mercury's website at http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk