Curmugeon,I did mention the option of using wave power,the study was carried out in Fremantle two years ago.The company were extremely happy with the out come as they found they could also produce potable water.It was discussed with Mr Gallop as the company required finance,we have heard nothing since.I am unaware if they approached the federal government.

What if every house in Australia had solar-power tiles on its roof? The price of manufacture would drop and there would be incentives for companies to produce yet more efficient solar tiles for the market. Add this to high quality batteries for storage and low wattage light bulbs such as are available now and we start moving towards power reduction. But the privatised power generating companioes might not like the loss of profit.

What if every house in Australia had solar-power tiles on its roof? The price of manufacture would drop and there would be incentives for companies to produce yet more efficient solar tiles for the market. Add this to high quality batteries for storage and low wattage light bulbs such as are available now and we start moving towards power reduction. But the privatised power generating companies might not like the loss of profit.

The main thing that keeps bogging things down is the discussion that centres around BASELOAD electricity. Of course solar can never compete effectively in suppling base load power to a grid because it just doesn't have the oomph. However coal and nuclear generated base load electricity will never, ever meet the efficiency of solar.

Stop trying to make out that we need to replace our current generators and supply to our current grids. Start thinking about energy that is available immediately at the point of consumption. Electricity grids lose about 30% through radiation from lines. That means they are merely 70% efficient. And that's not even taking into account the loss of heat in production. That's a big waste, but big companies can absorb or pass on that loss because of the shear number of consumers.

On the other hand solar can be used at the point of capture with virtually no lose because the distance of transfer is nil. This is unpalatable to big business and governments because people would no longer be completely reliant upon the grid. This is why business and government will never really do anything because it is in their interests to maintain the status quo. It is up to individuals to make themselves self-sufficient. And you can forget "clean coal" - there's no such thing.

Well, we now know where all the Democrat's bottom of the garden fairies went don't we?

Pity, they don't appear to have become any more practical, during their migration.

Definitely has-been, Hasbeen, don't you think?