David MacKay on Sustainable Energy

In 2008 David MacKay FRS, the Regius Professor of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, wrote a book Sustainable Energy – without the hot air. This book is available free at his site www.withouthotair.com

The biggest takeaway I had from the book was this:

Have no illusions. To achieve our goal of getting off fossil fuels, these
reductions in demand and increases in supply must be big. Don’t be distracted
by the myth that “every little helps.” If everyone does a little, we’ll
achieve only a little. We must do a lot. What’s required are big changes in
demand and in supply.

Have renewables kept SA power bills down?

Sophie Vorrath reports that SA power bills rose less in past decade than coal states. This was based on an ANU report commissioned by News Limited.

	2006	2016	Increase
NSW	$918	$1,922	109%
VIC	$ 841	$1,837	118%
QLD	$890	$2,102	136%
SA	$1,110	$2,080	87%
WA	$855	$1,582	85%
TAS	$1,317	$2,181	66%
ACT/NT	$1,061	$1,785	68%

Base-load electricity from renewables

In Renewable energy finally makes economic sense Mark Diesendorf argues that renewable energy can reliably supply base-load electricity. On those rare occasions when additional electricity is needed he advocates biofuelled gas turbines.

Yet more evidence wind farms are not harmful

Lenore Taylor in No reliable evidence wind farms harm health, peak research body says writes that a recent National Health and Medical Research Council draft report has found there was "no reliable or consistent evidence that windfarms directly cause adverse health effects in humans".

Hardly a surprise. However, the Government intends to hold more inquires. No doubt they'll eventually be able to create one that gives the answer the want. They just need an inquiry head who's ideologically sound and fact adverse.

Renewables may be reducing power prices in South Australia

Dylan McConnell, Research Fellow at University of Melbourne, writes in Power of the wind – how renewables are lowering SA electricity bills that:
Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power appear to be the impetus behind a South Australian proposal to substantially drop electricity prices, just as other states are hiking theirs.
...
And while it is not specifically acknowledged in the determination, this may be the first time the “merit order effect” of renewable energy sources can conclusively be seen flowing through to consumers in Australia.

Some articles on the Australian energy sector

Ben Eltham and Squirrel Main have written an interesting series of articles on the Australian energy sector:

Your Energy Bill Explained
Poles, Wires, Regulators and Middle Men


Ben Eltham has also written several other articles on the energy sector:
Renewables Will Win At The Ballot Box
Solar Is The Brightest Energy Option

Our Gold-Plated Electricity Infrastructure

Those opposing wind power

Mike Seccombe has written a two part series on the people and organisations behind much of the opposition to wind farms in Australia:
A field guide to the war on wind power and A field guide to the war on wind power (part two)

Sandi Keane also looks at the same people and how some residents are fighting back in Waubra Fights The Anti-Wind Bullies.

Wind and solar lead to electricty price falls in South Australia

Wind, solar force energy price cuts in South Australia by Giles Parkinson.

Wind turbine syndrome

Ketan Joshi in Anti-wind turbine syndrome: We need to clear the air looks at claims about wind turbine syndrome:

Wind turbines are subject to a disproportionate array of myths, compared to other generation technologies. From throwaway lines about bird deaths, to catastrophic misunderstandings of science and engineering, the opponents of wind energy tirelessly propagate odd falsehoods, based on a ferocious antagonism towards wind energy. These fictions, often deployed in rapid sequence, are difficult to combat. Significantly, the anti-wind lobby binds these falsehoods to a passionately emotive ethos, manifesting as unfiltered hostility. This tactic exposes an unnerving and worrisome fact – to influence public sentiment, evidence is unnecessary – myth and contempt might easily suffice.

And

To counter this trend, the wind industry must engage in a full, frank and scientifically defensible effort to quash the many myths that invariably orbit wind developments in Australia. As is always the case, scientific truth is significantly more valuable than falsehood. Safe, efficient and most importantly, non-invasive to communities and the environment, wind energy has a vital role to play in transitioning away from energy sources that damage the planet’s physical systems.

Significantly, individuals will come to harm as they experience needless anxiety as the direct result of unscientific health claims. The onus is on the wind industry, and the media, to present clear and relatable information. We need to cast light on this regrettably murky topic.

Edit: 25 Oct 2012
ABC Radio National's The Science Show had a report on the topic: Curious Distribution of Wind Turbine Sickness.

Wind power might be reducing energy costs

I've read a fair bit that suggests that wind power is far from the best source of renewable energy. For example:

Save the planet: Stop the Greens
Eco investors demand (even) more sweeteners for low carbon energy
Stand by for more big, windfarm-driven 'leccy price rises
'Leccy price hike: Greens to blame as well as energy biz
Climate Change 'wise men' recommend more nukes, power cuts

(The Register does have some reporters that are sympathetic to the arguments of climate change skeptics).

However, yesterday I came across the article Parkinson: why wind is cutting energy costs which claims that the deployment of wind farms is driving down the cost of electricity. Wind still relies on MRET subsidies, however its low variable marginal cost means that it gets priority over more expensive generators thus reducing prices.