Antinuclear

Dr Hewson joined a range of energy gurus in Adelaide yesterday for a hastily arranged summit on the eve of a state and federal meeting today.

There was general agreement with state environment minister Ian Hunter, who called the electricity system a “creaking, clanking old system that needs to be brought up to date”.

That is in reference to the transmission of electricity, rather than the concrete, and steel poles and wire.

Dr Hewson said there needed to be a redesign of the system; he argued that battery storage was the answer to the intermittent nature of wind and solar panels and wanted the government to ensure all renewable projects have storage capabilities.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and others have taken aim at South Australia’s “aggressive” and “ambitious” renewable energy targets.

South Australia gets about 40 per cent of its power from renewables and is aiming for 50 per cent by 2025.

Asked if that was going too fast, Dr Hewson said: “I don’t think there is any argument for slowing it down.

“In fact we need to do more across the country to achieve the (national target of) 26 to 28 reduction in emissions by 2030.” That called for a “greater reliance on renewables”, he said, adding that the system needed to be redesigned. More focus on regions instead of states could also help, he said. It remains a mystery why the entire state lost power.

Dr Hewson is spearheading a $1.2 billion solar thermal project near Port Augusta that he says could deliver 24/7 power…….. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/dr-hewson-backs-battery-storage-in-calls-to-redesign-states-electricity-system-after-blackout-storms/news-story/16d44c721727df3ce24e98aace0ca313