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The Forum > Article Comments > Unproven technologies a poor power option > Comments

Unproven technologies a poor power option : Comments

By Martin Nicholson, published 1/8/2011

We've had renewable energy power for 40 years and it has yet to produce commercially competitive power. Will anything be different in 2050?

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What a shame that it seems Martin N's main point has been missed.

Given that his general observation seems sound, what explains the persistence of government (and most of its would-be influencors) in the expectation that 'new' technologies will supplant the proven existing ones?
Posted by Forrest Gumpp, Saturday, 3 September 2011 11:15:46 PM
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Forrest his general observation is incorrect. Renewable energy does produce commercially competitive power and it does it today - even on my rooftop which gives a 6% annual return without subsidies or tax breaks.

The question to be asked is "We have had commercially competitive renewable energy for 40 years. Why is it that we have not had the investment to make it more widespread?".

The answer is found in the way we calculate the return on long term projects. Almost any project that builds new productive capacity and whose payback is greater than 10 years is unlikely to get funded.
Posted by Fickle Pickle, Sunday, 4 September 2011 11:19:54 AM
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