Dear Tanya,
I refer to the Community News page covering your letter in the Lord Howe Island Signal Magazine Volume 7, Number 116, dated 31 July 2024.
Tanya, I think there has been a misunderstanding. You state:
“In just two years, we have green-lit a record 54 renewable energy projects, enough to power over three million Australian homes.”
Tanya, you have left out the fact that it is only enough to power three million Australian homes when the wind is blowing and the sun is out. None of the projects have enough battery storage to give the 6 hours required to have power when it is necessary.
The reason these projects don’t include battery storage is the cost is far too high.
Renewables with adequate storage become incredibly expensive. That’s why the commercial operators at Lord Howe are paying over 90 cents per kilowatt hour for their electricity, whereas if they were in the Sydney suburbs powered primarily from coal and gas, they would be paying about 26 cents.
You then state:
“…our government has ticked off more renewable energy than would be generated by 8 large nuclear reactors.”
This once again I think is unintentionally misleading. Eight large nuclear reactors would give base load power for more than 95% of the time, whereas the renewable energy projects are unaffordable if the required amount of storage is included.
I thought I should advise you of this as I have been a visitor to Lord Howe Island for many years. It’s a wonderful place.
Regards, Dick Smith