Like the question of a woman’s right to abortion we have the return of other old conservative chestnuts to the surface for reexamination under the guise of some newly discovered fact.
Here in Tasmania both economic and environmental costs have been incurred establishing a hydro electric system. Now another system of fluid movement based on basic natural system functions is being harnessed to supply energy, wind.
So, except for the power cable connecting us with the eastern Australian grid, the electrical energy for our power comes from renewable sources, albeit that they are climate dependent. How relatively fortunate we are.
In other parts of the world decisions have been made to harness the power of the atom, and energy is produced from uranium. Not acceptable methods for all countries, Germany planning to phase out its nuclear power program.
Australia has 38% of the world’s uranium. Were all the world’s electrical energy derived from this source, some nine years of generation would exhaust all known supplies.
Fluid movement may also be exhausted, either through capturing all the available sources or by the natural systems providing the energy ceasing to operate at the locations of the harnessing structures. Either would equate with a ‘dead’ planet. One minus the life giving flows that renew fresh water, the other without wild nature and the energy that gives to the human spirit.
In the short term we have choices to make; to pursue clean coal fired generation through carbon sequestration, thus providing the planet with some hundreds of years of clean energy once the burning coal fields of China are extinguished; to expand the generation of power through nuclear means or to follow the sun, currently the safest nuclear reactor within reach.
Co-generation and conservation, worthy as they are, can only go so far.
Whilst awaiting the process of debate in a society with some democratic forms to take place, one action that would expand current generating capacity by tens of per cent would be to heat water using the sun. 40% of Australia’s electrical energy generating capacity heats water. Much of it sitting in a cylinder unused through the day.
For some, solar is not a choice, but reverse cycle harvesting of heat through water cylinders can supply hot water and only use about 25% of the electricity currently consumed. National or indeed Tasmanian adoption of this system would release about 30% of generating capacity.
The view that solar water heating will not work in Tasmania is, as all those heating their water with solar energy know, erroneous. So greater than 30% is possible.
How easy it would be to devise schemes to install solar and where necessary reverse cycle water heaters across the nation, paid for through the current cost consumers pay to heat water and to either retire generating capacity or resell that released electricity from the same invested capital in the power generating system that is no longer heating water to recover the cost of the power generating system.
You know this beats adopting the best available technology not entailing economic cost [BATNEEC] by actually providing savings by making more use of current generating capacity and stimulating the growth of an industry that could supply our region with a clean appropriate development mechanism. [Best Available Technology Stimulating Economic Growth BATSEC].
If it were only greenhouse gas neutral, such a conversion would boost our economy by growing an industry. However, for a period it would reduce carbon emissions by retiring old technology coal fired power generation. This must be the reason the
Far too simple for the tea drinkers and their fellow travelers from reversance land, Australia has to continue down the path of unsustainable growth, the 1950s’ model, because those whose expressed values lie in the period when it was believed that the world’s supplies of everything were endless.
Another 2 decades must pass before the ideas of the Cub of Rome, expressed in the Bruntland report, are to raise their head in debate, owned by the generation to lead us in the future, and another 30 years or so before we arrive at today’s understanding.
With lead times like these a saying from the age of imminent nuclear destruction comes to mind in describing humanity’s future. Bend over and kiss your arse goodbye.[BOAKYAG] because it will be FUBAR without some action.
Which reminds me how is that strategy going Judy, are there enough cups, is the sugar bowl full. Of course Tasmania’s conversion to solar water heating is relevant, the government’s commitment to the Bass Strait power cable makes it so.
phill Parsons finds the government in action, a most amusing process, enhancing his enjoyment of this great black farce, played upon us by those we choose. It says little for our collective capacity that we continue to pay for a combination of shortsightedness, incompetence and deliberated error.
