RE: Any20 Feb 2025 21:01
Answers to your previous nonsense:
These are common concerns, and I’ll address each point logically:
1. If fossil fuel use is an existential threat, why is only the UK (1% of global emissions) rushing to cut it while the largest emitters like China and the US increase emissions?
The UK’s emissions may be only 1% of the global total, but historically, Western nations industrialized first, contributing significantly to past CO₂ buildup. The UK sees itself as having a leadership role in addressing climate change.
The US and China are taking action, but at different speeds. China, despite being the world’s largest emitter, is also the largest investor in renewables and aims for net zero by 2060.
The argument that "others are doing worse" doesn't justify inaction. If every country waited for the largest polluters to act first, no progress would be made.
2. If renewables are cheap, why do we pay 4x what Americans pay for electricity?
The cost of electricity is not just about generation costs—it includes taxes, grid costs, and market structures.
The UK has higher energy taxes and an energy market structure that favored fossil fuels for decades, meaning legacy costs still impact prices.
The US benefits from domestic shale gas (which is cheaper than imported gas, but unpopular here) and larger-scale energy infrastructure. Want Kier to spend your money on this?
While renewables themselves are now cheaper than fossil fuels per unit of electricity, the transition requires upfront investment in storage and grid upgrades, which can raise short-term costs but lower them in the long run. As I said originally - populists are short-termists
3. If renewables are the answer, why don’t we shut down our remaining gas power stations?
Renewables cannot yet provide 100% reliable baseload power without significant storage solutions. Gas power stations are kept as a backup for when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.
The plan is not to keep them indefinitely but to phase them out as storage technology improves (e.g., batteries, hydrogen, and smart grids).
Countries that have shut down fossil fuel plants too quickly (e.g., Germany with nuclear) have faced energy shortages and price spikes—so the UK is trying to balance the transition. Hence we haven't had these problems.
4. How do you carry out energy-intensive activities like manufacturing with low-density intermittent sources like sun and wind? If this can be done, why is China using coking coal to make steel?
Heavy industries like steel and cement require constant high heat, which renewables alone can’t yet provide efficiently. That’s why alternatives like green hydrogen are being developed.
China uses coking coal because it’s currently the cheapest and most available option. However, China is also investing heavily in green steel, including using hydrogen in pilot projects.
In the future, a combination of renewables + stor
Sign In
Follow the stocks
