I SHARE David Randon’s view (Letters, January 17) that the falling price of oil undermines the financial viability of unconventional fossil fuels such as those extracted by fracking operations.

Given that 2014 was officially the hottest year on record for the world, and given the contribution that fossil fuels make to climate change, we need to be leaving remaining reserves in the ground.

I am sorry that Mr Randon appears to resist the irrefutable onward march of technologies.

He makes the oft-heard and obvious remark that the sun doesn’t shine at night. So what? There are already a number of solar plants in Europe producing power 24 hours a day, the Sanlûcar la Mayor project in Spain being a good example.

The plant near Seville produces 70,000 Megawatt hours of electricity per annum, enough for the electricity needs of 200,000 homes. Importantly, it provides electricity day and night. During the day huge tanks of molten salt are heated and at night this stored heat drives steam turbines.

Technology is already addressing the intermittency issues with renewables. And yes, technologies will solve the problem as far north as the UK.

I have visited a housing estate in Munich, for example, where solar power is stored in summer to heat flats in winter.

Christian Vassie, Blake Court, Wheldrake, York.