[ROCKMAN]

And on a per capita basis Australia is also the home of the greatest coal consuming citizens of any country on the planet. More then 2X as much as the US and about 4X as much as Russia. It is also the second largest coal exporter on the planet at more then 4X the US exports. Australia exports 70% of its coal production. The burning of coal produces 40% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, excluding export coal.

But its coal exports bring in about $USD 50 billion in revenue. All in all the majority of the Australian citizenship appear satisfied with its coal industry regardless whether Rupert agrees or not.

[Newfie]

It strikes that the one sure fire and available way to work towards carbon reduction with a stable grid is to reduce USAGE. I'm kinda surprised no one mentioned that.

Don't buy useless crap. Live in a reasonable size house. Reduce population. Live where you don't have to beat and cool. Eat your view.

Of course the thing holding this back is our personal expectation and belief in the growth economy.

We believe we can make our unsustainable population size sustainable, we cannot.

[ROCKMAN]

Newfie - "I'm kinda surprised no one mentioned that." I point it out often... Much to the aggravation of some here. The FACT is undeniable: the group that is responsible for the VAST MAJORITY of direct GHG creation (and thus climate change) is the individual fossil fuel consumers. They are also the primary cause of grid/supply disruptions. And for good reason: the entire energy dynamic is designed to handle NORMAL consumption demands. Excess/back up capacity is not free and rarely are the private companies, govts and consumers willing to pay for such "insurance".

Many times it has been stated: the most cost effective method to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels is CONSERVATION. Which is verty difficult in a world where the " with outs" want more and the "withs" don't want to give up what they have.

[sparky]

.
For your information , Australia is the largest exporter of coal in the world ,
electricity production is massively coal based .
all the whining about being green is little more than striking a pose ,
coal is king ,
the greens are simply obsessed with the holy war against nuclear
they carefully avoiding any serious grief to a very powerful industry which make and break government at will .

[Newfie]

Isn't there also a big deal plant that is in mothballs? Is that related?

[Shaved Monkey]

Theres been a report into what the causes were.
SA blackout due to 'transmission system faults' in extreme weather, report finds

Energy economist says preliminary report makes clear South Australian event was ‘a transmission failure, not a generation failure’

In a preliminary report the regulator cites severe weather as the factor triggering the transmission system failures“including, in the space of 12 seconds, the loss of three major 275kV transmission lines north of Adelaide.”

He said there was nothing in the report to suggest wind was a more unreliable technology than any other technology in an electricity system:
“The production or not from these windfarms would have made no difference to the ability to sustain supply in South Australia after those three 275kV lines had been dropped.”

“Malcolm Turnbull, our PM, took the first opportunity to lecture South Australians about the dangers of renewable energy, and for the Labor states in promoting unrealistic renewable energy targets,” the premier told reporters on Wednesday.

Weatherill said Turnbull’s comments were “in contradiction of the oral advice that we were receiving from the Aemo”.

“The PM was fearful that he would be blamed by the right wing of his party for pushing into renewable energy when he knows that he leads a party which is dominated by coal interests,” the premier said.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ays-report

They dont call the Conservative Coalition the Coal-alition for nothing

[Shaved Monkey]

Renewable energy generates enough power to run 70% of Australian homes

Renewable Energy Index shows sector will generate power to run 90% of homes once wind and solar projects being built in 2016-17 are completed.

Still only accounts for under 18% of total generation but there are a few big solar projects funded and should be on line soon



https://www.theguardian.com/environment ... lian-homes

[theluckycountry]

There has been much criticism of Australia because of the aggressive lockdowns that have been a response to the corona virus. Even as I type this the two most populous states, NSW and Vic are under draconian measures.
* You must stay home. Only leave your home if you have a reasonable excuse.
*If you must leave home, stay within your local area.
*you must stay within 5km of your home

These measures have been in force for months now and will no doubt continue many months into the future. This is resulting in a massive reduction in oil (petrol and diesel) consumption for our small nation of 26 million. By the end of it the driving habits of the average consumer will no doubt be permanently altered and future lockdown over trumped up virus fears will easily reinforce the trend. With past-peak oil fields globally declining at a rate of 6~7% per year these measures easily get ahead of the curve.

For the longest time energy worry warts have been demanding government take the issue of peakoil seriously and do something about it, but their collective suggestions were either inadequate or downright unpalatable to a free population. The government's solution to the problem though, while causing aggravation among a minority of selfish people demanding the right to go and do whatever they please, is generally accepted by the community at large who live in fear of the dreaded killer virus. I applaud the Australian Government for it's decisive action in reducing our oil dependency and imports.

It is conceivable that given another year or so of aggressive action we could become a net exporter again and this would allow us to avoid the nasty hangover coming for all the nations due to the massive stimulus debts they have incurred.



Last year saw Australian consumption go all the way back to GFC levels so bring it on I say. Let's change our ways and get away from all the frivolous travel, stay close to home and keep safe.