Monthly Archives: February 2012

Renewable Energy, Solar

Colossal costs to convert Australia to 100% renewable energy – and could it work then ?

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HT to Val Majkus.
The paper “Simulations of Scenarios with 100% Renewable Electricity in the Australian National Electricity Market” by Elliston et al. (2011a) (henceforth EDM-2011) has been analyzed by Engineer Peter Lang in his paper, “Renewable electricity for Australia – the cost”. Peter Lang is a retired geologist and engineer with 40 years experience on many types of energy projects throughout the world.

For the EDM-2011 baseline simulation, and using costs derived for the Federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET, 2011b), the costs are estimated to be: $568 billion capital cost, $336/MWh cost of electricity and $290/tonne CO2 abatement cost. That is, the wholesale cost of electricity for the simulated system would be SEVEN times more than now, with an abatement cost that is THIRTEEN times the starting price of the Australian carbon tax and THIRTY times the European carbon price. (This cost of electricity does not include costs for the existing electricity network). Peter has provided an Excel spreadsheet of calculations – which readers can use to do their own analysis.

This proposition to provide 100% Renewable Electricity for Australia is very expensive pie in the sky IMHO – typical of the GreenLeft – and on current technologies could not deliver stable grid power as we now know it.
So – if you want brown outs, black outs and more expensive electricity, Vote Green.
– if you particularly want more expensive peak hour electricity, Vote Green.
– if you want to be getting up in the middle of the night when you might be able to afford to run appliances, Vote Green.
– if you will enjoy owning a portable engine driven Electricity Generator, Vote Green.
– if you will enjoy the sound and smell of portable engine driven Electricity Generators all over your suburb, Vote Green.
– if you are mechanically handy and will enjoy rigging up a household wind powered generator and like the idea of paying for that plus banks of large and heavy batteries, then paying for their upkeep and replacement, Vote Green.
– the Elliston et al plan requires an increase of wind farms by a factor of 16.8 times – so if you like the idea of that – vote Green.
Readers might suggest other reasons to vote Green.

News and Views

The Heiner Affair – 20 odd years of Labor and Government cover-up

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Piers Akerman has just written an article reviewing the 22 year old Heiner Affair which originated when documents relating to child abuse were shredded by the Goss Queensland Labor Govt in 1990. The documents related to an inquiry into the former John Oxley Youth Detention Centre headed by former magistrate Noel Heiner in 1989. One of the victims who was pack raped while in Qld Govt care was recently paid $120,000 and is said to be travelling to Canberra to make her case known.
As Piers Akerman explains – a 2,800 page audit document pulling together the whole saga and composed by Sydney QC David Rofe was emailed to all Senators on Australia day last month. Some leading figures in powerful positions now are involved.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in 2004 posted documents on the subject – look for Volume 2. That committee no longer exists.
Anybody concerned could write to their Senators and ask what they intend doing.

Renewable Energy, Resources

Another year on – seven “Green companies” still poor investments despite taxpayers subsidies

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In January 2011 I posted on seven “Green” companies on the ASX and linked to their share price charts. Here we are, a year on and I wondered how they had progressed. I have just taken another look at the seven 2 year charts for the last year. Five are down since the start of 2011, two are up.

Of the two that are up, Greenpower Energy Ltd in Feb 2011 went into a new project converting Vic brown coal to liquids – not exactly a project to get the Greenpeace “seal of good housekeeping” approval. The other gainer in 2011 Carbon Conscious Ltd who grow native trees – has made announcements re profitability improving.
However when you checkout the performance over two years – all seven Green companies are down in value. SP = share price.

Resources, Water

Possible Kimberley region nation building dam projects

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The purpose of this post is to draw attention to the Durack Development web page of David Archibald and to promote some discussion.
We know that much of the West Kimberley region in Western Australia gets over a metre of warm season rain per year and total river outflows are listed at a huge 80,000GL PA. So is it feasible to build dams and grow irrigated crops in the Kimberley’s on this scale – in the face of modern day Green anti – damism, backed by serial ranks of publically funded kneejerk PC naysayers and then at the back of all that – native title issues.

For full size map.
What could viable Kimberley irrigation projects mean in terms of northern development and net national income. I wonder what is the best structure to attempt this – would private investors stump up the capital once the multitude of project approvals was obtained.
Link here for docs outlining the West Kimberley Grain Project and other potential WA projects.
The Ord River Irrigation Area in the East Kimberley is an interesting case history and there must be many lessons there.

News and Views

Stunning rain forecast for Canberra in February by Weatherzone

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When I first saw this I was somewhat gobsmacked. All these rainy days – in February !!

Anyway – we will see in time how good is the Weatherzone 28 day forecast. You can make a forecast calendar for your own area.
Remember that for the bright green days – 3 out of 4 should have rain – and my own thought is that the rain should top 10mm at least to count. We will see.
BTW – who is Weatherzone ?