“The wind and the sun are free don’t you know!”
“If we want a clean and bright future for our kids, coal needs to go, and renewable energy is the only answer, stop thinking about money and start thinking common sense!”
Just two examples from ill informed and or delusional feel good “saviours of the world”.
So, before you go commenting on why and how we should “save the world” with renewables, you should do sufficient reading to understand at least the basic principles of the following;
Energy density, power density, electrical production costs, distribution infrastructure, capacity factors, Australian energy history, frequency regulation, synchronous generation, and energy subsidies (obvious and indirect).
A fair bit of reading, I know, but without understanding all of these things, your comment will likely come from a position of ignorance, or worse, regurgitated idealist propaganda (predominantly from the Greens/Labor). Or, from all of those lovely wholesome generous people selling the ideal of a “Carbon free world”. “Free energy from the sun” the lovely solar people say, and it will only cost “this much”, and cost your neighbours as well. How nice. A man will believe almost anything if his income depends on it. So do yourself, and every one else a favour and read up before you start giving your two cents worth.
Happy reading.
Comparing all of the aspects of fuel type.
Energy density and power density.
With less synchronous generation we need more infrastructure and management.
Electricity_Subsidies_The_Facts_March_2017
Excerpt from above link:
Now you will have earned the right to make an informed comment.
Also. For those that think the world is going to be destroyed by C02 induced Global Warming/Climate Change etc. you need to do some serious critical research into the lack of real evidence (and the evidence against it), and the misrepresentations of data to support those doomsayer prophecies. Start here, then here, and then maybe here. If that is not enough, I also suggest here, and here.
Additional reading
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It’s now the 48th anniversary of Earth Day, and a good time to ask the question. How accurate were the predictions made around the time of the first Earth Day in 1970? The answer: “The prophets of doom were not simply wrong, but spectacularly wrong,” According to Ronald Bailey (
The Flinders Ranges is a very special place. A geological wonder on display with secrets hidden in plain sight. The mere sight of it’s majestic and proud sculptures contrasted against the vast Aussie azure, will silence the most hardened city dweller.
Most however, will look but not see. If only those would stop for a moment to marvel and wonder at how this geological masterpiece came to be. Even some of the ancient local rock art is unknown to the more recent inhabitants. You know, the ones who have been here for the last 40,000 years or so.
We kept to “business as usual” for this walk. Prepping all our gear, food and water the night before. Even so, we ended up managing to forget some things. Seems to be innately human to miss something, or perhaps I am just not quite as clever as I think I am.
Another perfect day in the Flinder’s was dawning as we neared our starting point. The sun had breached the far off horizon while the cool breeze freshened up our early morning languor. By the time we got our selves organised the bright sun stood alone in the bright blue, “big” Australian sky. We were now about to commence our last walk to complete the Heysen Trail. We paused for a moment to suck in the occasion, standing amidst the weathered hills and majestic mountains, as well as the old Eucalypt men of the Aussie bush. We were apparently still chilled from the early morning air it seems.
Wandering up the small rise on our start we checked the ruins of Aroona before heading off proper on the trail. The gentle open trail we started on is a little deceiving and is not indicative of the full walk ahead. Although not challenging in gradient, it is quite long and very rocky in parts. The trail is also not well marked in the creek we were to walk in.
A bit up and down for the first six kms in open woodland with plenty of Pines eking out an existence in red rock of the Wilcolo sandstone. Our trail slowly dragged us up hill 200 metres topping out at 585 mtrs above sea level. After that it was all down hill. Almost. Good smooth track. Then rocky track. Good smooth creek, and then rocky creek.
The trail now basically followed Wild Dog Creek, however we were mindful that a “hard left turn” was coming up further along, and as it happened my GPS had run out of charge and guess what items I’d forgotten to bring? Yep the spare batteries. With my GPS now flat we had to re-acquaint ourselves with some old fashioned orienteering with the map. All seemed fine for quite a while, in spite of the fact the Heysen signs had left us. We knew we would be following Wild Dog Creek for no more than about 3km’s before turning, so when we hit the 3k mark we stopped to assess our lack of Heysen Trail signs.
It appeared that the hard left turn had eluded us at some point “back there”, and we were off the trail and still in the creek. We knew pretty well where we were but had not seen any trail markers for the last kilometre or so. A quick scan of the map and the immediate terrain gave us our likely location and off we went up the rise to the left, meeting the trail again having only missed it by a smidge. Ps the “hard left turn was in actual fact a gentle left. The creek turns right and the trail goes fairly straight.
Once over the rise and into the final gully, the last section (as always) seemed to go on for just “ever”. “Surely this next corner/rise should reveal the end” I said many many times. Rocky creeks are always tiresome and this one was no different. Finally seeing signs of the end(“see I told you it was around this bend”), Grant strode off confidently while I paused to take a few pictures and soak in the moment. Delaying the finality of our journey just a little while longer.
“Here Comes The Sun” sang softly to me from my phone, waking me from my slumber. The night had not been restful though. Wave after wave of Flinder’s Mosquito’s dive bombed me every ten minutes or so. Just enough to disturb my attempts at sleep, and when I did manage my way to unconsciousness, I awoke soon after with throbbing bites the size of almonds. 5AM finally finished the Mozzie onslaught and I arose in a stupor, keen to take on the day. Anything to remove myself from this Mozzie nightmare.
With the sun yet to make an appearance, we headed off towards Brachina Gorge. Today’s walk will be Terezona to Aroona Hut. On the road we ran the gauntlet of kangaroos and rabbits skitting across the road all the way to the trail head. The pre dawn drive was interesting with kangaroos feeding along the roadside and many sitting on the road with little intention of moving along very quickly. Our strike rate for today would end up being “zero”. Quite amazing considering the dozen or so Roo’s every kilometre. The Heysen Range standing proud with it’s striped bands of glowing ochre in the early morning sun as we headed north to Aroona Hut.
Quite an easy going track in the undulating terrain amongst the native pines and the wattle, with Emu’s and Kangaroo’s a plenty. The Roo’s maybe a bit shy, but the Emu’s are still pretty dopey.
Jay Wetherill has just announced a renewables target of 75% by 2025.
