Australia: Renewable energy superpower
The Coalition’s nuclear folly
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The red on the graph is the nuclear scheme capacity on top of AEMO’s most likely scenario. The coal capacity (black) in 2024 is 21 megawatts, which will all retire by 2050. The nuclear capacity in 2050 is 7.2 gigawatts, which is insufficient to replace the lost coal capacity. So, the Coalition must have some other big plans to maintain supply. However, they only say they will release more details before the election. See The Coalition’s nuclear folly.
The massive cost of importing fossil fuels.
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Australia spends $ 61 billion a year buying fossil fuels from overseas.
We must electrify to cut this cost and gain fuel security.
Climate action to reduce migration
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Climate action to reduce migration and right-wing populism.
Australia can be a renewable energy superpower
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Australia glows orange on this map, showing that we have outstanding wind and sun resources compared to most developed countries. And we have abundant minerals, like iron ore and lithium. So, Australia can act on climate and become a renewable energy superpower. Wins for our climate, industry, jobs, and prosperity. See Australia: A Renewable Energy Superpower
Image Source: The global map of wind and solar potential is from the “Beyond Zero Emissions” 2015 publication “Renewable Energy Superpower”.
The critical danger: Heat amplifying feedback cycles
The hotter our planet gets, the hotter it will get.
Burning fossil fuels has set in motion planetary processes that are amplifying the current heating. For example, global warming is melting permafrost, which is releasing methane, which is increasing global heating.
| More global heating |  | More melting of ice containing methane |
 |  | |
| More greenhouse gasses |  | More methane in the air |
These vicious heating feedback cycles could end life as we know it, so we need urgent climate action.
See The Critical Danger: amplifying feedback cycles.
The inefficiency of hydrogen.
Hydrogen is inefficient for many applications. For example, battery electric cars are more efficient than hydrogen cars; a car powered by green hydrogen uses about 2.3 times more renewable electricity than a car with a lithium-ion battery. We need to be wary of the current excitement about hydrogen.
See Inefficient use of hydrogen.
Climate change evidence
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See Evidence of human-caused climate change.
Convergence: The basis for scientific confidence
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See Convergence: The Basis for Scientific Confidence.
Site Purpose
I have urged climate action on this website since 2009.
I also present “amplifying feedback” as a process that can help us understand climate change and human problems like addictions. Amplifying feedback cycles are driving change all around us, and this led to my website’s name, “Feedback Reigns”.
Site Author: Andrew Gunner
See My background.
Site Map
See the Visitor Site Map: a compact overview of the website.
Updated: 16 Nov 2024
3 Replies to “Australia: Renewable energy superpower”
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Thank you for this useful compilation of information – VERY useful to have on hand if one is having a debate with a denier of climate change
Regards
Pat Phair
This is brilliant Andrew, love the positive slogans. I do think they are the way to go. Undermines a lot of the antagonistic stance. Perhaps instead of ‘stop Adani’ type comments, there could be calls for a transition program to help fossil fuel employees. That might bring more folk on board.
This is a simply brilliant coverage of the issue Andrew, and so straightforward & accessible. It provides a wonderful reference for discussions and helps us remain positive, despite the difficulties we are all facing as the climate warms. Thanks you so much for putting this together and keeping it updated.