Avoiding Disaster: Australia’s Renewable Energy Debacle A Warning to Energy-Rich Americans

Laconic crocodile hunters aside, Australia doesn’t often register in the US of A, but its self-inflicted renewable energy fiasco has clearly placed it on the American radar.

News of wind ‘powered’ South Australia’s statewide blackout in September 2016 rendered it an international laughing stock. It also set it up as an example of what not to do – if you’re serious about powering a viable economy, that is?

On average, Americans pay retail power prices around 1/3 of what South Australians suffer. And they get to enjoy electricity, whatever the weather.

Don Dears ventured Downunder last year and got a first-hand glimpse of an unfolding power pricing and supply calamity. Here’s a short note of what he discovered, and his warning for his fellow Americans.

Living on the Edge
Power for USA
Don Dears
2 March 2018

With all the media attention given to the benefits of wind and solar and the negative aspects of fossil fuels, it’s worth examining what’s happening in countries that have invested heavily in wind and solar.

There are, for example, (1) the extra costs in Germany, see FERC Ruling and German Grid Stability, and (2) how Australia handled shortages of electricity during the past summer.

Last year, while I was in Australia, South Australia suffered its second blackout. See, Australia at http://bit.ly/2uC4MIZ

Now, a year later, Australia is again suffering from shortages of electricity. And this is after South Australia (SA) spent approximately $150 million on its 129 MWh battery installation. (The SA government hasn’t disclosed the actual cost.)

For example, a Melbourne hospital had to shut off its lights and non-essential equipment as the result of insufficient power due to a heat wave.

Power flow chart for a specific hour during January 1, 2018, between NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Note the small amounts of wind power and the flow from NSW to Victoria and Victoria to South Australia.

Data from the graphic, in MW.

Items of interest:

• Wind supplied a small amount of power, so these provinces must rely on coal-fired and natural gas power plants
• Supplying 100% of power requirements from wind and solar would seem highly suspect
• Failure to build new coal-fired and natural gas power plants will subject these provinces to blackouts and shortfalls of electricity
• Closing more coal-fired power plants, such as the closing of SA’s last coal-fired power plant in May 2016, and the closing of Victoria’s Hazelwood coal-fired power plant will likely lead to more blackouts

Australia and Germany are the canaries in the coal mine warning of the dangers, shortfalls, and the high cost of wind and solar.

Here at home, the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE) has predicted there will be blackouts in the next few years.

Isn’t it time to heed these warnings?
Power for USA

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