HAVING read the letter from William Ross, Aberdeenshire, who proclaims himself an “energy professional” (must be a hot air expert), let me respond to his false assertions regarding solar panels.

As any REAL energy professional will confirm, solar panels are NOT “worthless” without the sun ... they still are working in the shade as it’s UV radiation that the panels absorb!

He also conveniently forgets about the constant energy generation with Scotland’s growing tidal systems.

As usual, supporters of fracking are extremely selective in their arguments, and just to finish, he conveniently omits the worst culprit … nuclear! Never has an energy system been so subsidised in order to bribe foreign companies to build them! As for the toxic waste that is non-disposable for thousands of years and the mega costs of decommissioning these monsters for man, many years … don’t get me started.

Kenneth S Macrae
Renfrewshire

SCOTLAND does not need to frack, as we have plenty of gas fields. After some chemicals are extracted we are left with methane, which is burned in our household boilers. Modern boilers are 90%-95% efficient. The gases passed into the atmosphere consist of two-thirds steam and one-third CO2.

The wholesale price of the gas is the lowest it has been for years. The price of the suppliers to the public is a rip-off. Water and CO2 are both needed for tree and vegetation growth.

William Purves
Galashiels

I READ with a degree of despair the statement from SNP energy spokesperson Alan Brown MP (Indy ‘can rid Tories’ of nuke obsession’, Jan 11).

I suspect the majority of the Scottish population are not overly keen on the construction of new nuclear power stations either in Scotland or the rest of the UK, however with the closure of Hunterston and the impending closure of Torness I would be really interested to know how this loss of generating capacity is to be replaced.

READ MORE: Scots 'to foot the bill' for new nuclear power stations under Tory plans

A few pages further on, the letter from William Ross called for the removal of green subsidies and the probably unpopular introduction of fracking. At least this letter had a little more length and depth than Mr Brown’s simplistic efforts, and actually mentioned the vast increases in fuel bills we are all about to face.

If – and it’s a big if – we are to hold a referendum in 2023, perhaps Mr Brown and the undoubted combined talents of the SNP and the Scottish Government could put together a detailed energy policy for an independent Scotland which could go some way to combining affordable gas and electricity prices with a practical solution as to what we are do to keep the lights on when the wind is not blowing.

Brian Lawson
Paisley

HAVING read William Ross’s letter, waxing lyrical about the benefits of fracking, I would suggest readers google “Rock Springs Wyoming. Rise and fall of fracking boom town”.

LR
Dundee

I TRUST that when ScotRail reverts to the public sector, a concerted effort will be made to combat the huge amount of fare-dodging that currently occurs.

Here in Ayrshire, a particularly exasperating ruse deployed by wannabe fare-dodgers is to head for the onboard toilet and remain there until the train reaches their stop. Thus, they avoid any ticket examination or being required to pay their train fare on board. Moreover, they prevent genuine toilet users from using the facility, and often the latter are waiting cross-legged for no end of time.

So, a plea to the new ScotRail: copy the examples of Mersey Rail and the Newcastle Metro and introduce roving revenue enforcement teams to effectively deal with the freeloaders on our trains.

Stephen McBride
North Ayrshire

AS a wartime kid, I would have had many days without milk to drink if dates had been in use then, as with food. The criterion then was sniff, dip in a little finger and lick, then use – or starve. Of course, if it formed blobs when put in tea, it was best used to make scones or pancakes! No waste!

I have always understood that the present dating system allowed leeway to compensate for poor transport conditions and storage before products were bought.

READ MORE: Morrisons to scrap ‘use by’ dates on milk to reduce food waste

Even with eggs, if the date is reached they can easily be checked for safe use by dropping them in a jug of water and then using if they stay level. If they are past safe usage, they will rise to stand on the pointed end.

Even now, I take dates only as a rough guide. Moreover, anything well wrapped and frozen immediately after purchase comes out in exactly the same condition as the day it went in. Modern dating has been a huge driver of food waste.

P Davidson
Falkirk