Douglas Beazer (The future is solar, January 20) is quite right.

However, we all need to understand the economics of the solar power/hydrogen production processes.

An average solar panel domestic installation produces electricity at an amortised cost of only 5.5 pence per unit (one kWh) and its production of around 3,000 kWh per annum is part consumed and part fed directly into the electricity grid.

It will have a life expectancy of at least 25 years and require little or no maintenance. Thus, since the grid system links us all together, each domestic installation supplies half the requirements of two houses. What is quite immoral is that an owner of a domestic solar array is paid only 3.5 pence per kWh for his surplus production of about 1,500 kWh per annum and has to buy back about 1,500 kWh from his energy supplier when the sun goes down for 25 pence per kWh!

The recent meteoric rise in the cost of imported fossil fuels makes imperative the case for the large-scale installation of solar panels on houses and commercial buildings such as factories, offices and schools.

The current price of imported electricity has pushed up its retail price to at least 25 pence/kWh. Since our energy companies are largely owned by unscrupulous foreign investors, the equivalent of 75 per cent of what we spend on energy from overseas providers could be saved by producing it ourselves with solar panels.

Our Government could therefore easily subsidise a third of the cost of a solar panel installation of £1,333 to each householder with a suitable physical aspect to the sun as an incentive to install them. Also, it could compel every suitable house rented, constructed or sold to be equipped with them for only about 0.7 per cent of its value. Our economy would save a fortune on our gross energy import and be able to turn surplus green power into green hydrogen for storage for night consumption, fuelling our trains, HGVs, cars and air conditioning in the summer months when temperatures of over 40 degrees C will be common.

A further advantage of domestic solar energy production is the fact that it is produced at the point of use.

This avoids huge new investments in the electricity grid system and its sub-stations by giving grants to landowners and farmers who will then charge as much for power as they can get.

People that I have explained these facts to have been amazed to know that there are ways in which the world can avoid a climate catastrophe. One person almost wept in relief. The public and our Government need these matters spelled out to them in a language they can understand.

Ironically, the huge prices now being demanded for imported energy derived from fossil fuels simply provide greater incentives to provide our own. It is free, after all!

Mike Joslin

Garfield Avenue, Dorchester