One welcomes the clear-headed practical thinking of Sir John Rose (“Net zero’s leading edge isn’t a comfortable place to be”, Letters, April 8), which puts in context the simplistic sloganising of net zero targets.
Among other things, he queries the relevance of the electric car in a world where so many countries lack charging infrastructure or sufficient access to electricity itself. But a sceptical car-buying public is already turning away from buying electric vehicles, on the grounds both of cost and an inadequate charging network. Perhaps this will end at least the rhetorical emissions from politicians claiming that Britain must lead the world to a net zero future.
Rose goes on to ask, “Why don’t we just focus on those things we can influence locally such as energy security”. How true. It seems only common sense that the government of an island nation like ours should be committing serious research funding to those working to solve the remaining problems of generating tidal energy.
Britain lacks sunshine, the wind is unreliable, and even where batteries are concerned the letter also points out that access to the cobalt and rare earths necessary for their manufacture is not straightforward (and in any case consumes energy). Yet we are surrounded by oceans and, so far as one can tell, the tide is still reliable. Harnessing its immense power would go a very long way to providing Britain with both clean air and energy security. To make the technological advances necessary should be at the very top of the government’s priorities. Orkney has already shown the way with its Westray Firth project.
Gordon Bonnyman
Frant, East Sussex, UK
