Debunking Renewable Energy Myths and Reframing Australian Energy Futures
Debunking Renewable Energy Myths and Reframing Australian Energy Futures with Dr. Mark Diesendorf
Date: Wednesday February 26th., 2014. 7:30 PM
Venue: Seminar Room, Ian Ross Building, The Australian National University.
Enquiries: Trevor Lee –ACT@solar.org.au
This is a free talk open to the public.
Abstract: Renewable energy technologies are expanding and their costs are continuing to decline, threatening the business models of the electricity industry and the future of the coal industry. As a result, false myths about renewable energy are being disseminated by these industries and their supporters among politicians and the media.
This talk will bust some of the principal myths while demonstrating that a renewable energy future is technically and economically feasible for Australia.
Dr Mark Diesendorf is Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Studies at UNSW. He is a member of a team that is researching how to run the Australian electricity system entirely on renewable energy. Previously, at various times, he was a Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO, Professor of Environmental Science and Founding Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at UTS, and Director of Sustainability Centre Pty Ltd.
His new book, ‘Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change’, has just been published and will be available for purchase at the event for a substantially discounted price ($35 cash).
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Antinuclear 
The Editor
The Advertiser
Claims of taxpayer funded subsidies, causing volatility in the wholesale electricity market, forcing the use of the most expensive power stations, low availability in periods of peak demand, forcing up electricity bills, and choking off investment in geothermal and tidal power (The Advertiser, 17/2/14) detract from any valid arguments people may have against wind farms.
Most damaging of all is the extravagant claim by lawyer cum politician, Nick Xenophon, that adding additional wind farm capacity is “reckless” and an “economic kick in the guts”.
Before privatization in the late 1990’s the entire electricity industry was owned by government and hence was taxpayer funded. Most of this industry – the generators and the networks – is still around.
There has always been volatility in the wholesale electricity market. It is no more difficult to forecast wind turbine output than to forecast changes in demand or in power station output. Privatisation has added another dimension in the form of gaming the national electricity market.
We have always had some of the most expensive electricity in Australia, mainly due to the use of gas power stations. Grossly underutilized peaking power stations have been a major driver of wholesale prices. Wind farms mean that these fast start up power stations will be used more often and hence more economically.
Geothermal and tidal have both been the recipients of generous taxpayer funding, especially geothermal which after 15 years has made only slight progress compared with early forecasts.
Dennis Matthews
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The Editor
The Advertiser
Once again we have extravagant claims that detract from any valid arguments people may have against wind farms (The Advertiser, 21/2/14).
Every piece of equipment that is used to generate electricity consumes energy in its manufacture. The time needed to generate electricity to replace the energy used during manufacture varies from one technology to another but is particularly short when that technology uses no fuel that has to be mined, processed and transported. Wind and solar are prime examples.
For every unit of electricity generated by these technologies there is one less unit generated by more energy consuming and polluting technologies. Rather than having to build additional polluting generators their construction is either avoided or in some cases they are taken out of service.
Standby power in the form of fast start up power stations already exist, they are grossly underutilized and therefore economically inefficient. By using them to supplement wind farms they are used more efficiently.
Dennis Matthews
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