Climate Change and our Land of Fire, Flood and Drought.

For ideological reasons our governments have brought free market thinking into the energy market. The alternative is to go back to a state-owned electricity generation system. Does anyone want to do that?

We had a process which effectively priced energy sources to achieve lower emissions while ensuring supply - the same system being used all around the world, because it works! It was called a carbon price. It was highly successful for three years, until it was scrapped, also for ideological reasons.
So, if we reject successful measures for ideological reasons, then what is the result? Rising emissions and problems with reliability. Is anyone still surprised by these facts?

Meanwhile, I read the Australian Medical Association has just voted to declare climate change a health emergency because it threatens the health of so many people. One estimate predicts 250,000 deaths annually.

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Originally Posted by Tombie

It is ridiculous.

Working in Whyalla we also monitor the spot prices on our energy needs (biggest consumer in the state). Should the prices climb above a certain price point we shut down production in the Steel Mill, Pelletising plant etc as cost for energy then exceeds the price of ceasing production.

Hence the forthcoming energy projects to make our site self sufficient.

I even have Diesel Generators on standby at my C&S plants as it’s often cheaper to burn diesel than pull from the grid on these days.

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What is C and S?,if you don’t mind me asking.

I think it was Comalco,referring to the smelter Boyne Island,said if they can’t get power at a reasonable rate,we are out of here.

Difficult for business,in your situation,but if they are being compensated,well maybe they are doing ok when have to do shutdowns.

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

That's okay, they'll just import it from other states. It's an interconnected grid. No state can stand alone. Maybe renewable SA will help out Victoria. Tasmania is making lots of hydro. Even Queensland regularly sends power down to help out the southerners. We're nice, like that, up here. [emoji41]

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So much for renewable power supplies! ---End Quote--- Luckily there are not thousands of Ev's that also need charging[bighmmm]

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But to balance that there would not be any juice to power up the Fuel Pumps on the forecourts. We are all doomed I say, dooooomed.[biggrin]

Australian plastic recycling innovators forced offshore due to lack of support
Australian scientists may have discovered solution to our plastic recycling problem - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

That's okay, they'll just import it from other states. It's an interconnected grid. No state can stand alone. Maybe renewable SA will help out Victoria. Tasmania is making lots of hydro. Even Queensland regularly sends power down to help out the southerners. We're nice, like that, up here. [emoji41]

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The Vic load shedding (the only such incident) last summer would not have happened if there had been a better connection with QLD at the time.

Queensland had plenty of excess generating capacity at the time but the grid couldn't get it here. You could watch it live on the NEM thing.

It is a national market these days but the grid still has some quirks from when the generators were all owned and operated by individual states.

DL

I read that for Snowy Hydro 2.0 to work at least $2b will have to be spent to upgrade transmission lines from the Snowy to NSW and Victoria.

Here is the explanation for our current prolonged drought.

Global heating supercharging Indian Ocean climate system

Global heating supercharging Indian Ocean climate system | Global development | The Guardian

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Originally Posted by SpudHeadTed

Australian plastic recycling innovators forced offshore due to lack of support
Australian scientists may have discovered solution to our plastic recycling problem - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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aka lack of profitability

also, from the article

Australians throw out 3.5 million tonnes of plastic each year
and
The company says a commercial facility could process around 20,000 tonnes of plastic a year.


thats about half a percent.

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Originally Posted by Eevo

have our exceptions changed in the last 20 years?

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No,but i think some peoples expectations have changed over the last 20 to 30yrs.

As an example,many can't live or sleep without an AC,nor can many children.
Many even have Ac's going for their pets.

Schools are now full of AC's.

Huge load on the grid.

Just an example,don't want to create an argument,but that is a huge change from 30 plus yrs ago.

Sure it makes life more comfortable,but at a cost to the planet.

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Originally Posted by scarry

No,but i think some peoples expectations have changed over the last 20 to 30yrs.

As an example,many can't live or sleep without an AC,nor can many children.
Many even have Ac's going for their pets.

Schools are now full of AC's.

Huge load on the grid.

Just an example,don't want to create an argument,but that is a huge change from 30 plus yrs ago.

Sure it makes life more comfortable,but at a cost to the planet.

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sorry, i wrote exceptions, but i meant expectations.

[QUOTE=scarry;2953517]

No,but i think some peoples expectations have changed over the last 20 to 30yrs.

Try looking at the last 60 years. When I was a primary schoolboy in the 1950's many houses in our suburb still had wood stoves. Ice chests were common and refrigerators relatively rare in working class homes. Few houses had more than one or two power points. One in the lounge room for the wireless and one in the kitchen for the iron and toaster. Laundry was done in a wood or gas copper. Street lights were usually only at intersections with no lighting in between. The electrical load for the whole street was probably less than one flash house today.