‘No way’ renewables are cheaper than coal

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Mikah
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26 Aug 2019, 1:01 pm

Fnord wrote:
Mikah wrote:
... I'm starting to believe that solar and wind is an evil conspiracy against clean energy.
The problem is that there is no source of 100% clean energy. True, solar relies on 'clean' sunlight, hydro relies on the 'clean' movement of water, and wind relies on the 'clean' movement of air. However, the manufacture and installation of the equipment necessary to generate electricity from air, sunlight and water produces its own pollution. Then again, once installed, the energy is 'clean' while it is being produced., which cannot be said for coal, gas, nuclear and oil sources.


All true, but I resent lumping nuclear waste in with the other 3. The amount produced is trivial, it's very easily stored on site at the plant for centuries with minimal risks. A point pro-nuclear folks gleefully raise is that this current solar boom will produce 300 times as much in toxic waste in the next few decades.


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Fnord
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26 Aug 2019, 4:23 pm

By the end of the next few decades, there may not be enough people around for the whole nuclear debate to matter.



cberg
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26 Aug 2019, 4:38 pm

So you're saying black lung is CHEAP!? 8O

You can't spend your money when you're suffocating.

You're whinging about toxic waste from solar panels in favor of breathing toxic waste.


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Mikah
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27 Aug 2019, 5:14 am

cberg wrote:
So you're saying black lung is CHEAP!? 8O

You can't spend your money when you're suffocating.

You're whinging about toxic waste from solar panels in favor of breathing toxic waste.


Was this directed at me?


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cberg
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27 Aug 2019, 8:57 am

That's directed at anyone sadistic enough to prop up the coal industry instead of focusing on "job creation". Just persisting with horrible labor conditions & ignoring acid rain is not really going to stimulate the economy. Clean(er) energy is not a conspiracy against your sensibilities, it's about keeping you alive.

Burning coal is killing people all over the world.


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Mikah
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27 Aug 2019, 1:42 pm

Getting that sinking feeling you launched into the thread, guns blazing and aimed in my direction, without reading it properly again, cberg.

- The waste from solar panels is being compared to nuclear waste, not compared to air pollution from coal or w/e. It's also not raised as an argument in favour of continued burning of fossil fuels.
- The potential conspiracy I mentioned is not against my sensibilities - it is against nuclear power - for the benefit of oil and gas companies. They know that this solar and wind bonanza is going to all but guarantee the need for a parallel infrastructure of gas and diesel generators to make up for solar and wind's inherent unreliability.

Solar And Wind Lock-In Fossil Fuels, And That Makes Saving The Climate Harder And More Expensive

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshe ... expensive/


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cberg
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27 Aug 2019, 6:09 pm

Perhaps I conflated two posts. :roll:

It's directed at the coal lobby & corporate political interests killing miners, as well as the energy industry polluting the biggest cities in the world.


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28 Aug 2019, 8:18 pm

Mikah wrote:
Might well be cheaper to the consumer but if you want to go clean...

You know I'm starting to believe that solar and wind is an evil conspiracy against clean energy.


We here in Australia have a major problem with energy supply and that is the direct result of the decommissioning of coal power plants and the heavy investment in non-base-load power solar and wind farms.

Batteries can't at this stage store enough energy to cope with emergency situations.
We are talking about minutes, not hours, here in Australia in major population areas.
And the financial investment costs to increase this time factor are simply prohibitive, atpit.

It is predicted that the Socialist State of Victoria will experience black-outs this summer through lack of base-load power supplies.

Some people may not be aware of this but:
-When the wind doesn't blow, the wind turbines don't generate electricity.
-When the sun doesn't shine, the solar cells don't produce electricity.

South Australia and Victoria have decimated coal/gas base-load power production,
And are now suffering the consequences of their naive and ill-considered eco-virtue-signalling.
I'm sorry for the people that may suffer from blackouts this summer when they need air-conditioning, but this will be a warning for other states not to go down the same irresponsible emotionalistic path.

Cheers, mate. ;)

P.S.
I am sure some non-residential "individuals" of our Australian conditions/situation will have a better insight into the problems, of course. ;)



Pepe
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28 Aug 2019, 8:26 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:
HighLlama wrote:
The argument for renewables isn't about them being cheaper. It's about preserving the planet that was here before us, and which allows us to live. Jobs, cars, and our modern infrastructure did not exist before people. It will be hard to find work in the coal industry when the planet is dead.


True, but renewables are also cheaper.


I am not sure this is the case here in Australia due to the obscene subsidies given, courtesy of the long-suffering Tax-payer.
If renewables are so inherently cheap, why the need for subsidies?



Mikah
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28 Aug 2019, 9:36 pm

Pepe wrote:
Mikah wrote:
Might well be cheaper to the consumer but if you want to go clean...

You know I'm starting to believe that solar and wind is an evil conspiracy against clean energy.


We here in Australia have a major problem with energy supply and that is the direct result of the decommissioning of coal power plants and the heavy investment in non-base-load power solar and wind farms.

Batteries can't at this stage store enough energy to cope with emergency situations.
We are talking about minutes, not hours, here in Australia in major population areas.
And the financial investment costs to increase this time factor are simply prohibitive, atpit.

It is predicted that the Socialist State of Victoria will experience black-outs this summer through lack of base-load power supplies.

Some people may not be aware of this but:
-When the wind doesn't blow, the wind turbines don't generate electricity.
-When the sun doesn't shine, the solar cells don't produce electricity.

South Australia and Victoria have decimated coal/gas base-load power production,
And are now suffering the consequences of their naive and ill-considered eco-virtue-signalling.
I'm sorry for the people that may suffer from blackouts this summer when they need air-conditioning, but this will be a warning for other states not to go down the same irresponsible emotionalistic path.

Cheers, mate. ;)

P.S.
I am sure some non-residential "individuals" of our Australian conditions/situation will have a better insight into the problems, of course. ;)


Why was this directed at me... is anyone reading my posts?


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Pepe
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29 Aug 2019, 9:21 pm

Fnord wrote:
However, the manufacture and installation of the equipment necessary to generate electricity from air, sunlight and water produces its own pollution.


And then there are the maintenance and replacement costs.
Solar panels eventually fail.
Wind turbines eventually fail.
And what about the cost of picking up all the bird carcasses that the renewable energy industry kills every year? 8O



Pepe
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29 Aug 2019, 9:27 pm

Fnord wrote:
By the end of the next few decades, there may not be enough people around for the whole nuclear debate to matter.


Oh my lordy!
What an alarmist thing to say! <jaw-drop open mouth, hands-on cheeks> :mrgreen:

Mikah wrote:
... is anyone reading my posts?

No...
I don't think so. :scratch: