And while the topic is connected to energy? Let's have a look at the "renewable", ethanol.

Now as many are aware for every unit of energy you get out of ethanol, you need to put two in! And guess where the extra one comes from? Peak demand coal or oil?

Meaning the reduction in Co2 emission by adding 10% to petrol, is just 5%? as is the import replacement paradigm? and uses both arable land and increasingly scarce water and food into a very bad bargain!

Whereas if we used our own copious natural gas, (methane) we could save as much as 100% imports as import replacement; and reduce transport related carbon emission by around 40%?

LNG is process requiring enormous energy input, huge purpose built transport tankers and shipping it halfway around the world at considerable cost and carbon production, to our industrial competition?

Everywhere one looks, one sees methane flares from gas wells, refineries and drill rigs, pumping millions of tons of Co2 into the atmosphere annually!

Another choice would have been and remains, catalytically converting it to liquid metanol, then shipping that wherever! Or using it at home as a petrol replacement! And yes a harmless dye could be added to ensure, the flame was neither colorless nor odorless!

Moreover, catalytically converting it to methanol, would allow us to export the liquid in ordinary tankers or drums. And get similar prices as charged for refined petrol!

One cubic metre of gas having roughly the same calorific value as a litre of petrol, whereas as catalytically converted liquid methanol, the difference is around 1.25 litre of methanol to a litre of petrol!

It's not just S.A., that's disconnected, but our muddle through gormless, (please explain, I haven't a clue) pollies, who just gauge every project or proposal through the prism of the three year cycle and how it figures against their (re-)election prospects, rather than the long view or the actual national interest?

How do you think we got into this shambolic mess? By design? Design inferring an intelligence at the helm and organising desired outcomes!
Alan B.

@Luciferase nothing I said would suggest any change to being connected to the national grid. the SA governments plan is to cater for load shedding events, it's not a hard concept.

@VK3AUU actually I think it's you that doesn't understand the difference.

@Geoff of Perth comparing a 50 year coal power station using lignite coal to a brand new one using Bituminous is like comparing apples and oranges. SA doesn't have any bituminous coal, so gas or nuke would be a better option as a mix with wind and solar.

That's interesting, Cobber, because it seems each renewablista has his own take on this.

On another thread I venture that "As more reports come in I'm now unsure whether the (battery) storage is supposed to be just for load management to make power failure more gradual than sudden, or the final solution."

Aidan then weighs in heavily with, "Luciferase, I repeat:
IT'S A MEANS OF PRODUCING A RELIABLE SUPPLY. If what we were after was merely away to prevent a sudden failure from becoming catastrophic, we'd go with flywheel storage, not batteries."

It's bob each way while holding out great hope in some magical affordable storage solution saving the day to make the stupidity of going 100% renewable look like a good idea.

If I were running this place, you'd have a job Alan B.

The way of our future will be; when the Chinese perfect another's invention, we'll enthuastically take it on board and have it presented as futuristic . That way politicians will not need to shift their thinking outside the three year electoral cycle.

The current example that fits the above, is the snake oil salesman from the U.S. selling gullible politicians batteries for storage.

When Malcome Turnbull lectures Australians on the need for innovation, this is what he means.

If Alan gets the gig, diver, he might read this guide
http://www.thesciencecouncil.com/pdfs/P4TP4U.pdf
Check out boron.

Luciferase ....

Interesting....get back to you on that one...up to pg 100 of 400 ...it's a task.