Why renewable energy comes at so much cost

SIR – I wonder which universe Ben Goldsmith (Letters, May 4) is living in.

When he talks about renewable energy costs, I assume he is looking only at the bottom line of his own company, and not at those of manufacturers whose costs are dominated by the price of electricity.

Do his calculations of the benefits of renewables include the cost to workers, companies and the Exchequer of the loss of Britain’s ceramics industry, the aluminium smelting industry and the cement industry due to soaring energy prices?

We almost lost the steelworks in South Wales. That was only saved by the taxpayer funding the carbon taxes that were driving up costs and destroying the company’s ability to compete with producers in countries that are not determined to sacrifice jobs at the altar of renewable energy.

Pamela Wheeler Shrewsbury, Shropshire

SIR – Mr Goldsmith thinks wind and solar panels are now the cheapest sources of electricity in Britain.

He must be unaware that his claim only holds water if governmentimposed costs (in the form of arbitrary carbon taxes) are preferentially loaded on to fossil-fuel generators, and if the grid reinforcement and system-balancing costs associated with intermittent renewables are ignored.

Fiona Bick Westhill, Aberdeenshire

SIR – Charles Moore (Comment, April 29) clearly sets out the case for reviewing and reducing energy costs for both businesses and consumers.

Industry needs energy that is competitively priced. Consumers want to know what the real costs are, what taxes are levied and why. A cap on energy bills is just a red herring.

We are entering a new era of supply and storage. It is therefore vital that component costs are clearly identified to enable a proper debate to take place.

Paul Cook Hayling Island, Hampshire

SIR – Britain’s “coal-free” days are celebrated – but ironically they are down to Drax, Europe’s largest coal-fired power station, which, by burning wood, now produces 16 per cent of Britain’s renewable electricity. This wood is grown in the US and brought in on ships that produce more pollution than all the diesel cars in London combined.

Kevin Prescott Littlehampton, West Sussex