"FLOATING wind farms to bring 230 million and thousands of Scots jobs to economy," claim Renewable UK and Scottish Renewables, adding that 33.6 billion worth of economic activity could be delivered, generated over the next 30 years ("Thousands of Scots jobs can be created by floating wind farms", The Herald, November 1). Seventeen thousand jobs could be created or supported.

Since the wind turbine hardware is manufactured in and imported from the Continent and, more especially, from China, where its manufacture generates vast amounts of greenhouse gases, along with more during installation, servicing and, eventually, demolition and disposal of the equipment, one must ask at least five questions:

1) Whence will come the huge monies and how much could go to Scotland?

2) Will the world's CO2 release be usefully spared?

3) If our greenhouse gases' output can be reduced by this approach, what evidence is there that the climate could benefit, from offsetting adverse changes?

4) Could surplus electricity be sold abroad?

5) Since the UK is responsible for only one-third of one per cent of the planet's manmade CO2 output, Scotland's a tenth of that, how useful could this proposed project be so as to help decarbonisation?

The great bulk of the Earth's greenhouse gases come from China, the United States, India and many more non carbon-curbing nations.

Our governments rightly stress the vital need for value for money, so very comprehensive and detailed auditing of scientific-electrical engineering assessments and also manpower prospects are essential before any further, rational decisions can taken on this vast proposed project.

Taxpayers should recall that promising statistics about any benefits from wind turbines and all renewables must be taken with a pinch, or more, of salt.

(Dr) Charles Wardrop, Perth.

* FRIDAY'S Agenda article ("Engineering will be key to solving net zero problems", The Herald, November 1) made reference to the Scottish Parliament's Scottish Parliaments climate change committee. This should have been the Westminster climate change committee. We apologise for this error.

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Questions that need to be answered on offshore wind - HeraldScotland