In his report on the Federal Energy and Environment Minister, Josh Frydenberg’s, address to the National Press Club on April 11: https://reneweconomy.com.au/frydenberg-takes-the-low-road-its-a-weak-neg-or-nothing-78470/, Giles Parkinson wrote in the RenewEconomy yesterday that, “The economics, the engineering, and the environmental arguments are quite clear. They point to a modern, smarter, faster, cleaner and cheaper grid that is based around renewables, storage, smart software, distributed energy and dispatchable power”. Discuss.

Please post supporting links, papers, peer reviewed research etc to support your responses out of respect for those wanting to learn from this debate. Thanx.

It appears that many Australians do want the government
to focus on renewables even if it costs more according to
a poll done last year by the Lowy Institute:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jun/07/australians-want-government-to-focus-on-renewables-even-if-it-costs-more-poll

And here's another link on what South Australia should aim for:

http://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-should-aim-for-100-renewables-by-2025-not-50-34320/

Mr Turnbull may have a problem implementing policies towards this end
due to the conservative (and vested interest) side of politics in
his party.

If we are going to be fair dinkum about not using coal to generate electricity and if we really want to see a cleaner planet then, as a first step, an ethical step and a compassionate step, we should immediately ban the export of coal and cease mining it.

There may be economic repercussion but what the heck, doing the right thing is its own reward.

Last time I checked, uranium didn't count as a renewable resource. I assume that's still the case. Despite the fact that it lacks the advantage of being renewable, it is still carbon free. It's also capable of producing of a reliable baseload power supply.

We have a lot of yellowcake in Australia. Why the hell aren't we 'burning' uranium? Or even thorium, if only to shut Alan B(ollocks) up.

It's hard to believe people can be so stupid.

Issy, I am not sure if you were being sarcastic with "we should immediately ban the export of coal and cease mining it." in an ideal world that would be achievable. Unfortunately we are in the real world, and yes I agree we should cease mining and exporting coal, but we have to do that in a way that is practical, and that is going to take time.

It shows that Turnbull has no policy, and is out of touch on power generation, when he made the ridiculous demand that AGL keep the 50 year old Liddell power station in NSW open past its well and truly use by date of 2022. The plant is a worn out dinosaur that is incapable of producing high output without risking a catastrophic failure.

http://www.afr.com/business/energy/electricity/the-fight-about-agls-liddell-power-station-explained-20180409-h0yju5