Readers' letters: Renewable energy is being held back in Scotland

" We are being held back by the UK government that has cut support for renewables”

CGI image showing proposed outer berth at the Port of Leith with floating foundation and offshore wind turbine. The £40m private investment will see the creation of a bespoke, riverside marine berth capable of accommodating the world’s largest offshore wind installation vessels.

Renewable energy held back in Scotland

The renewable energy hub plan for Leith is very welcome (News, 26 May, and a reminder that Scotland is ideally placed to be leading the way on green energy, including tidal power.

But we are being held back by the policies of the UK government that has announced cuts of support for renewables, while our electricity users and green energy companies are levied the highest grid transmission charges in Europe.

The Renewable UK report "Charging the Wrong Way" shows that billions of pounds of green infrastructure investment are being jeopardised by GB regulations.

Energy policy is reserved to Westminster, and Ofgem charges Scottish Highlands and Islands £7.36 per Mwh to connect to the National Grid and £4.70 in lowland Scotland.

The figure in England is 49 pence per MWh and the transmission charges for other western European countries range from zero in most countries up to £1.36 in Norway.

Norway and Denmark have invested in state owned hydrogen and wind power companies that are actually manufacturing the green energy products of the future, while Scotland can’t fully capitalise on our renewable potential as part of the UK.

Fraser Grant, Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh

Edinburgh City FC deserve applause

Commiserations to Edinburgh City on narrowly missing out on promotion to Scottish League One.

As Neil McGlade said in his report, it was a brave effort by City, who were the better side on the evening. As a Dumbarton fan, I have to admit that most of the breaks went our way during the game.

Watching the match did cause me to reflect. On 16 August 1986 I was the referee when the re-incarnated Edinburgh City played their first competitive match.

An East of Scotland Division Two fixture on the ‘B’ pitch at Paties Road (Edinburgh United had the main pitch) against Eyemouth United, which City won 2-1.

To be now missing out narrowly for a place in the third tier of Scottish football, in what in the grand scheme of things is a reasonably short period of time, reflects great credit on all involved in taking the club forward over these years.

Best wishes to City in the return to their spiritual home at Meadowbank and for their continued success.

David Brownlee, Chair Sons Supporters Trust, Craigleith Hill Avenue, Edinburgh.

Cummings testimony disgraces Johnson

The testimony of Dominic Cummings to a committee of MPs made fascinating viewing and should be a source of immense embarrassment and humiliation to Boris Johnson, highlighting his quite shocking indifference to the impending pandemic.

The most astounding aspect of Cummings’ testimony, however, is the absolute power that this man possessed within government and No 10

It seems Johnson depended completely on his unelected adviser and one wonders what ministers such as Matt Hancock and Priti Patel were doing as catastrophe approached.

Covid was, without doubt, a situation no government had ever faced before, but their lack of any plan, any urgency or even any acknowledgement that it could be disastrous and Johnson’s complete dependence on Cummings rather than his, albeit, less than able ministers, confirms that this hapless government and Prime Minister are not, and never have been, fit for purpose.

D Mitchell, Coates Place, Edinburgh.