[Luckypants]

I agree that renewables are very variable and cannot be relied on to be generating when there is demand. This week has been an absolute case in point - the windmills up the road from us have been stationary almost the whole time.

The challenge for the UK (and the world) is to find a way to store renewable energy when there is surplus and use that surplus when there is too much demand. For instance the wind still blows at night, but few people need the electricity it generates. Big batteries is one solution, just see the difference those made to the power grid in Western Australia. Pumped storage hydro is another, as these can come online rapidly. The big idea seems to be large grid interconnectors, so when we have no wind we get power from another country that has surplus and pay it back when the shoe is on the other foot. Norway are going for this in a big way to become the 'battery of Europe' by using excess energy from other countries to pump water uphill in pumped hydro schemes and then release it again when needed abroad.

We just need to get through the period of not enough renewable generation and infrastructure to make it work, where we are still reliant on CCGT electricity. I hope that the government's 10 year plan will achieve this - because no matter what you think, we cannot go on just burning stuff for transport and power.