Going back to first principles, why do we need renewable electricity in our energy mix? Politicians, scientists, non-governmental organisations and economic leaders around the world all agree on one point: the current energy model is too dependent on fossil fuels and we need more energy that is affordable, creates jobs and produces fewer CO2 emissions.

This is hardly a new issue, but it’s very much a live issue, as the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reminds us.

The