An article in Weekend Australian quotes an industry group that affirms
that High Efficiency Low Emission coal fired 2 Gigawatt power station
cost $2 to $3 billion compared to $3billion per year for solar & wind subsidies.
The cost of the coal station's electricity is $40 to $78 a megawatt
hour against over $100 a megawatt hour from renewables.
Why do renewables need subsidies ?
This is very difficult to reconcile against the claims that renewables
are very much cheaper.

There is a further complication in that no one has added the cost of
providing backup batteries for each and every solar/wind installation.
I suspect that cost might well equal or exceed the solar/wind cost.
From the limited search I have done there does not seem to be a
5 gigawatt/hr battery anywhere.
That would seem to be the minimum size as it would keep a 200megawatt
wind or solar farm going for one day.

I suspect that the cost would be totally off the scale.
I have not been able to find a cost of batteries of this type.
Obviously you cannot just ring up and get a quote.
Did anyone see a price for the Sth Aus 100megwat/hr battery ?

There are hundreds of these HELE plants operating throughout the world, but not in stupid Australia. We are just the Third World source of cheap coal for countries which, unlike Australia, want to remain productive and competitive.

Of course coal is cheaper. That is why there is a coal boom with
1600 new plants in 62 countries around the world being built– increasing 43%.

Hell even Germany is building more coal plants, their renewables are just expensive window dressing.

Japan reportedly is building 45 new coal fired stations and using Australian coal.

Australia, once the Lucky Country, now the Stupid Country.

yep we have lined the pockets of those promoting the gw scare while pensioners freeze and fry. By the way congratulations South Australia for having the highest electricity price in the WORLD and third world reliability.

Here are two links that may be of interest:

http://theconversation.com/renewables-are-getting-cheaper-all-the-time-heres-why-64799

And -

http://theconversation.com/australian-coal-v-renewables-how-much-will-it-cost-to-bring-electricity-to-indias-poor-55449