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Post by ignorantianescia on Dec 22, 2016 18:52:35 GMT
The costs of solar have been dropping fast, and a particular, innovative kind of solar electricity is now the cheapest form of electricity generation in parts of the developing world. That doesn't translate to being the cheapest in the developed world because of sunk costs (among other factors), but it is good news for the climate and for the profitability of renewables. www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/22/14022114/solar-year-two-remarkable-facts
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Post by unkleE on Jan 3, 2017 10:52:23 GMT
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Post by sandwiches on Mar 9, 2017 23:20:38 GMT
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Post by ignorantianescia on Apr 16, 2017 16:27:54 GMT
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Post by ignorantianescia on Apr 18, 2017 10:46:54 GMT
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Post by evangelion on Apr 18, 2017 12:14:57 GMT
Unfortunately this means nothing, because the Liberals are in power for the next 2 years.
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Post by unkleE on Apr 18, 2017 12:32:22 GMT
It is a bit more complex than that. There are several issues running at once:
1. Energy (i.e. electricity, mainly) costs continue to rise. Causes are probably the ageing infrastructure which will need major capital outlays to replace soon, profit increases by the now largely privatised energy sector, and poor management of the whole system. This is a populist issue taken up by the Murdoch press, but obviously important for low income families and high energy use industries.
2. The security of supply has been shown to be poor in some recent natural events which took out power lines or increased demand above the normal peaks. Ironically, these weather events are increasing in frequency and severity because of climate change because (in part) of coal-fired power.
3. The obvious benefits of renewable energy in a country that has so much space, so much sun, a lot of wind and a lot of coastline. Costs are coming down - recent reports suggest building new coal-fired power stations will be much more expensive than renewables, and some energy companies have already said publicly they don't expect any more to be built.
4. Deep divisions and incompetence in government. The present government is trying to balance moderates like the PM vs deep conservatives like the former PM, and doing a poor job because of this division. Add to that, the coal industry has done a successful job of lobbying, scaring and (a cynic might say) "buying" the government which is already disposed to value big business and profit over the future - even supporting a big new coal mine that will help destroy the Great Barrier Reef.
The report you quote is sometimes referring to #3, but also # 1 & #2. I suppose we'll muddle through, but it will be despite this present government, not likely because of it. Truly, Australia is a wonderful place to live, but sometime sit is a fools paradise.
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Post by ignorantianescia on May 11, 2017 20:45:26 GMT
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Post by ignorantianescia on May 24, 2017 17:39:18 GMT
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Post by ignorantianescia on May 29, 2017 16:59:27 GMT
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Post by ignorantianescia on Jun 2, 2017 17:50:53 GMT
So... Stuff happened. Caption: The end of the world (as we know it)
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Post by sandwiches on Jun 2, 2017 21:57:01 GMT
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Post by sandwiches on Aug 30, 2017 17:19:33 GMT
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Post by sandwiches on Nov 5, 2017 12:56:15 GMT
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Post by ignorantianescia on Sept 21, 2018 21:21:34 GMT
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