The plan:
http://www.climatechange.gov.au/sit...mo/renewables-study-report-draft-20130424.pdf
It's not written by environmentalists or politicians, but by the AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operators). Those are the people who run the power grid, and the people who would have to build the green grid. Some mild tech improvements are assumed by the study, but nothing miraculous.
In summary, they said they could do it by 2030, but to pay for it, electricity prices would have to be around double the current levels. A mix of solar, wind, wave, hydro, biogas, biomass and geothermal, with some pumped hydro and molten salt battery storage.
It could also be made cheaper by going, say, 90% renewable, as conventional natural gas generating plants are cheap in comparison to renewables. Nuclear would probably not be used, as on a cost basis it's not competitive.
The point? That it's not just a fantasy, nor will it destroy anyone's economy.
http://www.climatechange.gov.au/sit...mo/renewables-study-report-draft-20130424.pdf
It's not written by environmentalists or politicians, but by the AEMO (Australian Energy Market Operators). Those are the people who run the power grid, and the people who would have to build the green grid. Some mild tech improvements are assumed by the study, but nothing miraculous.
In summary, they said they could do it by 2030, but to pay for it, electricity prices would have to be around double the current levels. A mix of solar, wind, wave, hydro, biogas, biomass and geothermal, with some pumped hydro and molten salt battery storage.
It could also be made cheaper by going, say, 90% renewable, as conventional natural gas generating plants are cheap in comparison to renewables. Nuclear would probably not be used, as on a cost basis it's not competitive.
The point? That it's not just a fantasy, nor will it destroy anyone's economy.