Wind power cannot provide us with a credible steady energy supply, according to some industry experts.

Speaking at the Power Summit 2011, Aggreko chief executive Rupert Soames warned an audience of Commonwealth energy ministers and business leaders against relying on wind.

He said that wind sources fluctuated too much to provide steady energy supply.

“What happens to wind at dusk, when there’s peak demand? Can you imagine something that’s putting out 1100 watts at 3’o-clock in the morning and then decides to put out nothing at 9pm at night, being able to handle the demand curve that peaks in the evening?”

Professor Ian Fells of Newcastle University, who chaired the session on Sustainable and Efficient Energy for the Future, agreed that wind power’s importance was over-estimated.

He told Mr Soames: “I can see that you’re not a great fan of wind power… neither am I. No one would build wind power, as is in the UK now, unless it was immensely subsidised. The subsidy is unbelievable, but most people don’t realise it’s happening.”