James
This article is really hard line. You mention the target that 20 per cent of our electricity has to come from renewables by 2020. The generating industry will struggle to meet this, but thanks to the decision to split the target into large and small scale generation (small scale is the home stuff)it might be able to do it.

I doubt very much whether any carbon will actually be saved overall - remember that we're meeting targets not saving carbon - but the illusion of saving carbon will be there.

However, there is no room for the further expansion you suggest, both on a practical level in finding enough projects that make any sense, and in allowing for the stability of the electricity grid.

Grid operators have managed more than 20 per cent overseas, I think, but that's countries like Denmark, the grid of which is quite small compared to its neighbours and so it can usually just import and export the stuff without much trouble to the neighbours when they have to stabilise.

But there are renewable base load power plants now available I hear you say? No there are not.. go look at the actual literature on those plants (notably the pilot plant in Spain activists try to claim is base load). 20 per cent is all you're going to get to in Aus for some time. So it makes sense to look at gas plant emissions.

Climate change deniers should also consider the prospect of fossil fuel depletion, normally but not always reflected by higher prices. Gas major Santos tells us to expect the price of domestic gas to double in 20 years but I think it could happen in 10 years when it used for everything. That includes baseload power to replace coal, quick ramping gas turbine power to iron out wind and solar variability, chemical feedstock, domestic heat and future truck fuel.

Possibly we can increase the renewables fraction to well over 20% with the advent of the smart grid and affordable electric cars that double as overnight energy storage. That could take decades, not just by year 2020. World production of crude oil and close substitutes has been on a plateau since 2005 and must soon go into permanent decline. If we are serious about big CO2 reductions and alternative energy sources I think 3rd followed by 4th generation nuclear has to be a major part of the mix. If the CEFC doesn't think along these lines I fear they are doomed to fail.

Taswegian
Time to catch up. The Santos statement relates to domestic gas prices which has to do with demand from China and, I believe, because it is being used more commonly as a substitute for coal.. gas reserves have been going through the roof because of fracking and prices have been falling in the US.. gas scarcity is completely off the agenda. The whole energy industry is going through a revolution at the moment - although you will find people still trying to peddle the idea that the end of the fossil fuel reserves is in sight. Considering what's been happening of late, its a very hard line to sell..

I'll pass over the denier jibe for them moment...

The author says this:

"However, if a Liberal government is elected next year, it could still repeal the legislation before much money has been spent. For this reason, I think CEFC funding should begin immediately, and would prefer construction to begin on at least one project before the next election."

This is typical of the arrogant scorched-Earth approach of the current government; they know they will be decimated by the 'drover's dog' at the next election and are mongrelising the Green's ideology, the carbon tax, RET and the various CEFC legislations, by trying to make them as permanent as possible and incorporating punishment provisions in the legislation.

It is a disgrace and an insult to the electorate that the elitists who dictate green 'policy' should be taking this approach.

Between now and 2016 the CEFC and ARENA will give over $13 billion to renewable scams, primarily wind and solar start-ups.

Wind and solar do not work; they are old and inadequate technology. The fact that there is no provision for money into thorium, IFRs and UltraSupercritical coal technology shows once again that the greens disdain the Australian population.

This should end in court with the advocates of wind and solar having to justify their lies.

And Once Upon a Time Children

Aunty Julia and the Green Pixies (so happy and gay) were so kind in bringing us this Carbon Tax. And the air over our little land was cleaner after 200 years before Sleeping Beauty got 1,200 Big Power Bills from Mr Mailman.

And forget, you sleepy heads, about all that bad Gas and Coal we send to China and India and Japan to make their power stations blurt Carbon. Because exports don't count or Aunty Julia or Aunty Christine will smack you.

Aunty Julia is making us save a little bit of Carbon each year in our Little Green Piggy Banks so all the Aunties and Uncles in all the Lands will Copy us, little children.

And besides you don't have any choice except at the 2013 Elections Kiddies. When Father Tony Promises to rid us of this tax... and he wouldn't fib because his boss His Eminence Cardinal Pell will smack his :)

THE END

Roses1, even if we (i.e. everybody) went 100% with it, atomic energy would not run out in the lifetime of your grandchildren. With 4th gen technology, the time our descendants have to deal with scarcity of fissionable material is so far in the future that they could be members of a different species.