Why it will cost $320b to ditch coal (in three maps and a chart)

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The transition away from energy generated by coal on our electricity grid is inevitable, but it will take decades to achieve and cost about $320 billion.

says coal-fired power plants are likely to shut much earlier than expected, which means the main electricity grid could become coal-free by 2040.

“It is hard for any energy source to compete with wind and solar in Australia because sunshine is relatively strong in most parts of the country, wind speeds are relatively high and land is so cheap, so other technologies [such as nuclear] are really more for other parts of the world where these pre-conditions aren’t so good,” Jotzo explains.

Batteries are fast to dispatch and therefore ideal for short-term responses to a power outage. However, they tend to hold only a small amount of energy before they need to be recharged. “We don’t know what the future gas price will be, what the future emissions penalty will be on gas-fired generators – those things will make a big difference,” Jotzo says.

Australia’s National Electricity Market is one of the world’s longest interconnected power systems with about 40,000 kilometres of transmission lines and cables. “That’s the single largest challenge – mobilising all of that capital to completely revamp the infrastructure,” says Jotzo.

 

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FYI YamagamiShingo Thx & Rgds ^RW 🇦🇺 cc VickiTreadell USEmbAustralia finance trade in the 21st Century.

Renewables advocate Frank Jotzo (the authoritative voice in this article) says '...The high latitudes, high population density, that’s where nuclear comes into its own,' Is he saying Germany's energiewende has been going the wrong way for the last decade?

baseload Australia urgently needs to develop new baseload power. Poor and middle class are going to get crushed

only 'inevitable' due to regulatory failures that deprioritize reliable coal/gas. Overbuilding a network so that small, widely distributed solar/wind generators can connect in is the new madness

Yeap, so let's get on with it. No more whinging.

This is rubbish. Transitioning will be cash positive for the economy once FF subsidies are stopped. More jobs, less health impacts, cheaper power. The only pockets to suffer will be the ones who have been knowingly burning the planet

germany just wasted half a trillion

And at 320Bn, are we sure that we shouldn't consider modern molten salt reactors as part of the mix?

Should have happened over the last ten years.

Renewables are cheaper, provided of course you ignore the extra $320 billion needed for extra transmission capability. EnergyWrapAU

But electricity prices will go down

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‘Act now’: Grid chief urges renewable boom as early coal closures loomIn its official 30-year road map released on Thursday, the Australian Energy Market Operator said it expected 60 per cent of the eastern seaboard’s coal fleet to exit the electricity grid within the next decade. | Mike Foley and Nick Toscano Nice job! Well done AngusTaylorMP Can’t wait to see how this plays out. Gullible people, no wonder we are in a mess. I could tell them any BS and they’d go along with it said the bureaucrat to the politician. Mothball the gas and coal generators. Don't destroy them. They will be needed in the future.
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