The clean, green energy illusion, electricity reality, and baseless political ideology

Environmental Impacts

All machinery and associated facilities including solar arrays and wind turbine towers have a finite life, they wear out. The issue of disposal of spent machinery and facilities is a growing problem in general. The disposal problem, if we cover our land with renewables, has not been addressed. This is inexcusable and irresponsible.

Also solar and wind farms are in competition for land use. Many farmers do not want ugly transmission lines on their properties nor solar arrays and wind farms littering the landscape.

It is scandalous that solar array and wind farm developers do not have to undergo the same rigorous assessments for end-of-life issues as those seeking permission to develop a mine.

Dispatchable electricity

Society wants reliable, available, 24/7, affordable carbon-free electricity with minimum environmental degradation. This necessitates a significant proportion of dispatchable generation in an electricity grid. An all-renewable grid is not fit for purpose. The only available, carbon-free dispatchable source is nuclear fission, which has its own problems. Gas is also a dispatchable source and although it is a carbon emitter, it is much less for the same amount of electricity than coal.

Storage of electricity from solar and wind sources is simply not available at present economically in required quantities. There are not enough hydro sources to meet overall demand. It is wishful thinking to assume with complete confidence that economic large-scale batteries will be developed in the near future. Constructing facilities on the assumption that economic large-scale batteries will be available is a form of reckless gambling with taxpayers' money.

Conclusions

An all-renewables electricity grid is not fit for purpose (no one has achieved it) and attempts to do so are extremely expensive and have adverse environmental consequences also. Not only technological considerations but real-world experience, such as in Germany, show this clearly. Germany has the highest proportion of renewables in its grid and the highest electricity costs in the EU; with unfavourable weather, Germany buys electricity from nuclear France. However, solar and wind have a place in an electricity grid as part of risk avoidance diversification. Rooftop solar has the advantages of not competing for land space and no significant transmission cost, as connection to the grid is already there.

Unlike Germany, Australia cannot buy electricity from nuclear France, we have no umbilical cord. Australia cannot 'save the planet' even in the highly unlikely event that it achieves net zero. 'Saving the planet' requires a global response. Why then, are we hell bent on lowering our standard of living when our net zero would have an imperceptible effect on global emissions and at the same time we are flogging as much coal as we can sell as the second or third largest exporter? The world, including Australia, is still dependent on fossil fuel.

Our present trajectory, given what we want from electricity (available 24/7 and affordable) conflicts with the Laws of Nature, leading us on a downward path economically and leaving us more vulnerable in a military sense. Ukraine would have no electricity if it had been relying on solar and wind, with Russia attacking its energy infrastructure.

Wake up Australia if you want to maintain your standard of living. Don't be conned by baseless ideology. It is all pain and no gain at present. Be guided by the Laws of Nature.

Nuclear fission is only an interim measure, for now. Permanent disposal needs to be found for radioactive waste. There is no presently available immaculate solution to our energy needs. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security about the 'clean, green energy revolution'. It is a feel-good illusion giving profit to many in the short term and satisfying the egos and thirst for power of fervent baseless-ideology adherents whose prime focus does not seem to be the welfare of the Australian public but rather virtue signalling at whatever the cost (to the taxpayer).

Modern society cannot prosper without reliable and affordable energy.