Sources of energy in eastern Australia in 2015-2016. In South Australia the "gray" gas power stations have more recently been switched off, taking too long to restart. This has made South Australia dependent on unreliable wind and solar. When these renewable sources fail (causing major blackouts to heavy industry about once a month) South Australia is depedent on Victoria's increasingly high-in-demand/hence expensive, base-load power stations. (Graph above and Map below courtesy Australian Energy Regulator/Operator via LCKE)
Submarine Matters is not completely tied to subs, surface ship ""skimmers" or even jets. Energy sources are worth commenting on.
THE ENERGY PROBLEM
THE ENERGY PROBLEM
Poor energy planning in the State of South Australia caused critical blackouts in that State during storms, heatwaves and other regular events in 2016/2017. These crises were caused by South Australia's closure of reliable base-load power stations and then over-reliance on massively subsidised but unrealiable, renewable power stations (chiefly solar and wind).
Former Prime Minister Abbott's energy renewable comments (voiced 23 February 2017) are certainly justified by the facts [1]. Australia's pathetic "energy leadership" will cause hypothermia, increased respiratory diseases and higher death rates among the aged in southeastern Australia during the southern Winter (June to September this year).
The latest threat to southeastern Australia's electricity supplies is the closure soon of Victoria's Hazelwood Power Station [2]. Via major electricity cable extensions the renewable junky, South Australia, is also dependent on Hazelwood.
Hazelwood supplies up to 25% of Victoria's base load electricity and more than 5% of Australia's total energy demand [3].
Hazelwood is definitely closing by the end of THIS MONTH - 31 MARCH 2017. Multi-state blackouts won't be immediate but will impact 2 months later, in June 2017.
June will see very cold, still nights:
- with longer nights there is less solar generating daylight, and
- cold still air means windpower won't work
- dropping temperatures means more strain on the closure depleted base load power.
- prices for all baseload electricity as well as home oil and gase will jump by 30% over 18 months.
Under these conditions there will be greater "load shedding" ie. short term planned blackouts, especially during the coldest nights:
- starting with the renewable junkies of South Australia
- then the halfway coverted junkies of Victoria
- SA, Vic and Tasmania will need rely on the baseload power stations of Liberal NSW to feed them
some power, but at unsustainably high prices.
As I've said after Hazelwood's closure there definitely won't be enough power to run heaters in the homes of poor, vulnerable and old. These people cannot afford sufficient insulation or afford sharply increasing energy prices.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
Both sides of Australian politics have failed to take action to improve the energy situation. This situation might only be improved by building new coal power stations (like China and India) to operate in the next 5-10 years. Australia, for the first time should also build nuclear power stations (in the next 10-20 year time frame) following Japan's and Canada's long held strategy.
[1] http://tonyabbott.com.au/2017/02/transcript-hon-tony-abbott-mp-remarks-launch-making-australia-right-mlc-building-miller-street-sydney/
The latest threat to southeastern Australia's electricity supplies is the closure soon of Victoria's Hazelwood Power Station [2]. Via major electricity cable extensions the renewable junky, South Australia, is also dependent on Hazelwood.
Hazelwood supplies up to 25% of Victoria's base load electricity and more than 5% of Australia's total energy demand [3].
Hazelwood is definitely closing by the end of THIS MONTH - 31 MARCH 2017. Multi-state blackouts won't be immediate but will impact 2 months later, in June 2017.
June will see very cold, still nights:
- with longer nights there is less solar generating daylight, and
- cold still air means windpower won't work
- dropping temperatures means more strain on the closure depleted base load power.
- prices for all baseload electricity as well as home oil and gase will jump by 30% over 18 months.
Under these conditions there will be greater "load shedding" ie. short term planned blackouts, especially during the coldest nights:
- starting with the renewable junkies of South Australia
- then the halfway coverted junkies of Victoria
- SA, Vic and Tasmania will need rely on the baseload power stations of Liberal NSW to feed them
some power, but at unsustainably high prices.
As I've said after Hazelwood's closure there definitely won't be enough power to run heaters in the homes of poor, vulnerable and old. These people cannot afford sufficient insulation or afford sharply increasing energy prices.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
Both sides of Australian politics have failed to take action to improve the energy situation. This situation might only be improved by building new coal power stations (like China and India) to operate in the next 5-10 years. Australia, for the first time should also build nuclear power stations (in the next 10-20 year time frame) following Japan's and Canada's long held strategy.
[1] http://tonyabbott.com.au/2017/02/transcript-hon-tony-abbott-mp-remarks-launch-making-australia-right-mlc-building-miller-street-sydney/
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazelwood_Power_Station
I wonder if Japan, Germany and the US suffer from similar renewable madness?
I wonder if Japan, Germany and the US suffer from similar renewable madness?
Pete