When it comes to electricity supply, we’re caught in a vicious triangle. A bold scheme that pays big business to switch off could be part of the solution

If you have ever played rock-paper-scissors, you’ll know the frustration of having no sure winning strategy. Whip out a perfect pair of sharp scissors, and the rock might blunt them. Then again, paper smothers rock, and scissors cut paper. There’s no win-win.

So pity those pitting their wits against our energy demands. As consumers, we want energy to be affordable. As a society, we want our supplies to be secure and reliable. And as responsible global citizens, we want power to be clean, green and low-carbon, too. But these demands trump each other in different ways.