Sir, – The opinion piece by Anthony White ("Why wind is not the answer to Ireland's energy question", Opinion & Analysis, October 14th) proffers a rather new solution to Ireland's energy and CO2 emission problems, the large-scale importation of wood pellets from the US. It is suggested that these be used as fuel in Moneypoint, replacing imported coal. Would that it were so simple!
While it is true that this would dramatically reduce CO2 emissions compared to coal, burning wood still releases CO2. It would also do nothing to reduce our dependence on imported fuel.
In fact, we would have to import almost twice as much by weight as coal, depending on the moisture content of the wood pellets. The widespread assumption that the fuel is carbon neutral is also now being seriously questioned, as it depends on how the fuel is harvested and on forestry management methods. Cost is also highly variable, while unfortunately coal has never been cheaper, as gas from fracking in the US has meant it is no longer in demand there. Wind energy on the other hand does not generate CO2 (except in initial turbine and tower manufacture and construction). It is something we are not short of and at times produces up to 50 per cent of our electricity needs. In fact 16 per cent of our needs were provided by wind over 2013, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, resulting in massive reductions in CO2 emissions. Of course it is variable so we need some baseline electricity, as we always will. This is best provided by the relatively clean existing and planned combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations.
On one thing we can agree – coal-burning at Moneypoint should be phased out! – Yours, etc,
JOHN CUNNINGHAM,
Claddagh,
Galway.