Antinuclear

South Australia will gradually transition to renewable energy

Clean Energy Council director of strategy Kane Thornton said large-scale solar-thermal power, wind power and bioenergy would become cost-competitive once the cost of fossil fuel electricity generation increased. In the more distant future, geothermal and wave energy were also contenders…..

 the $23 a tonne price on carbon was unlikely to tip the balance toward nuclear energy in Australia. “Plus, it is illegal to build nuclear power stations in Australia and, with developments in Japan, it’s unlikely to be popular.”.

Alternative power to the people, Adelaide Now, Sarah Martin  , July 14, 2011, THE proposed carbon tax has turned the spotlight on alternative energy sources needed to fill the void.    As regional South Australia digested news this week that the Government’s proposed carbon tax would likely close Port Augusta’s Playford B power station, a small Adelaide company was testing its flagship geothermal project in the State’s north…..

EnergyQuest director Graeme Bethune said the most likely outcome for Playford would be for the power station to be converted to gas. “I would be surprised if the closure of that and replacement with gas had a material impact on energy prices (in South Australia),” he said. “You would probably need some augmentation of the pipeline line off the main Moomba to Adelaide pipeline, and some augmentation to Port Augusta.”

But as the price of gas increases, which will also be driven by increased export demand, other forms of electricity generation come into play.

Clean Energy Council director of strategy Kane Thornton said large-scale solar-thermal power, wind power and bioenergy would become cost-competitive once the cost of fossil fuel electricity generation increased. In the more distant future, geothermal and wave energy were also contenders.

“It is quite clear continuing to burn coal is not a sustainable strategy for Australia,” he said.

“We think in the long term, absolutely, renewables become cost-competitive.”….

But Mr Bethune said the $23 a tonne price on carbon was unlikely to tip the balance toward nuclear energy in Australia. “Plus, it is illegal to build nuclear power stations in Australia and, with developments in Japan, it’s unlikely to be popular.”…..

July 13, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News