Antinuclear

Australia missing the bus on renewable energy

the opportunities for jobs, export earnings, energy security and zero-emissions electricity on offer in the renewable sector. Failure to act means Australians will remain stuck in the coal pit while the world prospers from the renewable energy boom.

Australia blown away on renewable energy Sydney Morning Herald MATTHEW WRIGHT February 3, 2010

RENEWABLE energy is the world’s fastest-growing power source. It is already generating baseload electricity at utility scales. Large solar thermal plants with heat storage can dispatch power whether or not the sun is shining, and make handsome profits during demand peaks. Wind power is being installed at scales that dwarf Australian grid requirements. These and other clean-energy technologies are replacing coal on modern energy grids.

While Australia continues to throw money at 19th century technologies, Spain, China, the US and others are charging ahead with zero-emissions power generation, and creating export markets as they go.

Spain has a level of electricity consumption equivalent to Australia’s, although it has roughly twice the population. Like Australia, Spain has strong, consistent sunshine, and the Spanish use this asset to ensure energy security. They have already built 24-hour baseload solar plants, using molten salt to store heat, which is then used to create steam and turn turbines………………..

Melbourne-based Solar Systems has proven commercial success in displacing diesel in diesel/solar hybrid power generation for remote Aboriginal communities. Solar Systems was unable to generate operational revenue and was forced into administration in August.

The federal government could have demonstrated foresight by quickly creating a pipeline of projects for remote area power systems dependent on diesel – a responsible use of stimulus funds, ensuring the company’s viability and readiness for growth after the financial crisis……………

Those who perpetuate the myth that renewable energy can’t satisfy our electricity demands have an interest in long-established, emissions-intensive industries. The federal government seems happy to encourage this approach, offering $7 billion of compensation to coal-fired electricity generators under the emissions trading scheme while stonewalling on renewables. This strategy ignores the opportunities for jobs, export earnings, energy security and zero-emissions electricity on offer in the renewable sector. Failure to act means Australians will remain stuck in the coal pit while the world prospers from the renewable energy boom.

Australia blown away on renewable energy

February 3, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, solar, wind | antinuclear, Australia, climate change, climate change - global warming, energy, renewable, smart grid, solar, wind