What is the best way to fashion the energy policy of the UK to reduce CO2 output and set the best example?

When an energy provider builds a power station, they want it switched on continuously to make money. However, that will not be the best way to bring more renewables on stream.

Say the energy requirement of the country is 60GW. If we develop renewable sources so that the average power generated by renewables is 30GW, or half the country’s needs, then there will be a problem on calm days for sea and wind. So we need reserve power to step in.

If there exists a backup 30GW of gas turbine stations they can be switched in very rapidly (two minutes to power up) to compensate for the most rapid fall-off from the renewables.

The snag is they would be making no money when switched off, which is why some sort of Government control is needed.

The average power from the gas turbines held in reserve would range from nought to 30GW, say 15GW for say half the year, assuming a symmetrical distribution of wind energy.

The remaining contribution, up to the total required by the country, would be met by a mix of gas, coal and nuclear.

As wind speeds and wave power increased we would end up exporting power,or switching off further conventional generators for a while, which could be the slower ones to power up, such as Drax. The peak renewable contribution could then be the sum total for the country.

Of course, we need a sophisticated cost-benefit analysis of all this surplus power and a proper analysis of the distribution of renewable energy.

But keeping energy in reserve saves CO2, allows a much bigger renewable contribution, and keeps the lights on.

I believe this is the way forward.

Chris Clayton, Hempland Drive, York.