
Epic Failure of Planning for the Green Energy Transition
Briefing Note 22.9 September 2022
Purpose: To signal that the transition from coal cannot go any further without nuclear power.
The critical issue.
The combination of wind droughts and the lack of grid-scale storage dictate that any further loss of coal-fired power capacity will pose serious dangers whenever the wind supply is low.
This means that the green power transition cannot accelerate and it may have to stop until nuclear power is up and running.
An epic failure of planning
Readily available evidence on the frequency and extent of wind droughts across SE Australia (the NEM) was apparently ignored or discounted.
Billions of dollars have been spent on assets which cannot replace conventional power in the grid and would be stranded without subsidies and mandates to use wind and solar power.
Imagine a gigantic irrigation scheme with no reliable water supply!
Many billions more will have to be spent to keep coal and gas facilities on line until nuclear power is available.
Conclusion.
The decision to allow subsidised and mandated intermittent energy to connect to the grid is probably the greatest peacetime public policy blunder in Australian history.
Supporting information.
How it is working out on Europe – update from Jo Nova.
TheAustralian situation in a nutshell.
Mark Mills explains why the green energy transition is not happening.
Mark Mills on the limit of wind and solar power.
A thorough comparison of the cost of different power mixes, taking account of the firming required for wind and solar. Source
The real cost of intermittent energy and how it kills reliable power providers.
The failure of RE is demonstrated in South Australia.
For example, on the morning of Monday 19 September at breakfast time, half of the demand for power in SA was imported and 80% of local generation came from gas.
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