Little science and less arithmetic

THE Welsh Government relies on the population having little science, and even less arithmetic.

Lesley Griffiths is going to halt CO2 emissions by building more Llandegley/Hendy wind farms in mid Wales. When she has finished overturning planning considerations and building 746 more Llandegley Hendys then she will have matched the output of Wylfa Newydd.

She is concerned about CO2 emissions. Maybe she should get her scientific advisers to look at the quietly released report on the “new” greenhouse gases, in total now 85. CO2 has been allocated a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1 – yes, one. Chlorotrifluoromethane (CClF3) a refrigerant which is being “phased out” has a GWP of 13,900, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), used as an insulator in the electrical industry and in double glazing, has a GWP of 23,500, and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), used as an etchant in microelectronics, has a GWP 16,000.

Lesley Griffiths must be reassured that U&I/Development securities are on her side in Wales’ campaign to save the planet by building wind farms. These companies, along with Njord (!) Energy are doing the arithmetic behind the facade of wind turbines reducing “CO2 emissions”– let their annual report for February 2018 speak for itself: “Our exit from Bryn Blaen Wind Farm has progressed. We made a strategic decision NOT to sell the project during the year, in the strong belief that we could realise more value by extending our timeline, having built out the site during the year and submitted the requisite paperwork to secure valuable subsidies. We also expect to realise profits from this and our two other wind farms, Rhoscrowther and Hendy (Llandegley), in the coming financial year. Although wind farms are not core to our future strategy, they leverage our planning and development experience and will enable us to make a significant margin on an equity-efficient basis. Bryn Blaen wind project Wales, delayed. Expected to realise in Fin Yr. 2019 £6,000,000 to £8,000,000. Trading: Post-planning consent being obtained, funding or sale of Rhoscrowther and Hendy (Llandegley) wind farms £10,000,000-£12,000,000.”

Need we say more? Kristine Moore and Dominic Costa Llanidloes