On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 21:56:40 +1000, Sylvia Else
That's one big speech Sylvia.
I'll sum it up in one sentence:
'Wind power will never be more than a trickle feed to the existing system'.
Any form of power that can have production stopped by overt means (in this case lack of wind) will never be reliable enough as a main supply.
The catastrophy caused by the uninhibited stopping of energy can be seen during the recent gas problem in Victoria.
You appear to have extreme knowledge on the economic side of power and plant production.
But I think the immportant points are:
1. The main energy production and infrastructure of a country should be owned and controlled by the state, not private enterprise.
2. Money should be put into energy development in Australia so that we can have our own inhouse technology - unlike at present where we pay for wind generation technology from Denmark (its just a turbine on stick, for Gods sake)
3. Realisation should be public that wind, wave and solar power are all subject to natural forces and hence, being inconsistant, will not be available for more than a trickle feed system. Thermal power is interesting, but fraught with danger.
4. The use of nuclear power generation is the most effective means for the immediate future.
5. The worlds future energy will be supplied from Hydrogen.
6. Hydrogen fuel is the cleanest and most abundant fuel on earth. It is not controlled by a small number of greedy glutinous countries. It does not require refining after collection. Development money should be thrown at it so that Australia can be a leader in its production and world distribution, and our industry can be at the leading edge of technological development in its use (fuel cells).
Australia has a chance to be at the forefront of the most important energy development in the history of mankind.
The important question is - do our politicians have the knowledge and guts to allow us to become leaders in this technology, or do we suck aong after the US, Japan, China and India, as has become commonplace with this country.
(John Olsen and the Liberal Government leased the energy supply of South Australia to the Chinese for 200 years, to pay off Government incurred debt through the State Bank. Lets hope we have better future political leadership than this).
Artie...
