WRITTEN FOR AN OBJECTION TO GLENELLEN SOLAR BUT APPLICABLE TO ALL WIND, SOLAR AND TRANSMISSION PROJECTS
1. The transition from coal is impossible without nuclear
Simple as ABC.
A: Input to the grid must continuously match the demand.
B: The continuity of wind and solar input is broken when there is little or no wind overnight.
C: At present there is no feasible or affordable large-scale storage to bridge the gaps.
Consequently it is suicidal to depend on wind and solar power unless reliable backukp (firming) power is available or power can be sourced from some other grid, which is not the case in Australia.
2. The cost
The cost of the net zero pogram is prohibitive for three reasons, first because gas and coal power will have to be kept on standby until nuclear is on line and we will be stuck with two power systems, second because tens of billions of dollars will be required to rewire the nation and thirdly, all the RE plant will have to be replaced in 20 years unlike the 50-60 life span of coal and nuclear facilities.
3. Environmental impact
This is not just a matter of local impact which arouses people who are infavour of net zero and unreliable energy in principle but NIMBY!
Principled environmentalists, unlike NIMBYs and outright fakes, object to wind a;nd solar facilities becuase they leave a trail of environmnetal and human damagae all the way from mining in distant places to local landfil.
A gentle reminder from Bill Stinson, The Dark Side of RE!
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