Harness the wind and the sun

They’re not cost efficient yet, but huge benefits kick in as oil runs out.

JOHANNESBURG - Trillions of dollars are at stake in the great divide over global warming - and it is hard to winkle out the truth between vested interests.

This scribe has had his ear bashed on the one side by Andrew Kenny, SA's most prominent denialist, and on the other, this week by Eddie O'Connor, chairman of the Irish multinational windfarm company, Mainstream.

In recent weeks Moneyweb published that, according to Mainstream's research, SA is ideal for wind power. It has established that we could generate 70% of Eskom's current output from this eco-friendly energy source - at a reasonable premium to current costs.

We have also published that Mainstream is ready willing and able to start building wind farms at the price offered by the National Energy Regulator. All it needs is access to the national grid and someone reliable to pay for its power.

Several commentators hav...