o sung wu,
As the article notes, the reliability of newer (HELE) coal was even lower.

As for what I'd do instead:

Firstly I'd get more dispatchable generation capacity - mainly in the form of batteries, but also obtain (on lease) more gas turbines. And start construction of infrastructure like Snowy 2.0 which will change the way we use hydro. I'd also see what it would take to get the railway museum to use some of their diesel electric locos to supply power to the grid on days of very high demand.

I'd ensure renewable generators had access to cheap finance so that less subsidy is required as an incentive to build them.

I'd make it much easier for users to buy electricity on the wholesale market so that anyone could benefit from demand responsive technology. And I'd change the gas market rules so that generators don't have to arrange to buy gas before they start using it.

I'd encourage heavy industry to find ways of utilizing lots of cheap power while avoiding having to use electricity when it's relatively expensive.

And I'd upgrade and enlarge the grid to make it more capable, while ensuring the infrastructure companies would not be able to profit from financing it.

Fester, If you think getting reliable energy from solar and wind would bankrupt the nation then you're extremely ignorant. Firstly because the nation's a sovereign currency issuer, and secondly because it would be CHEAPER than the coal fired power that you disingenuously claim is reliable.

I suggest you read http://www.csiro.au/~/media/News-releases/2018/Annual-update-finds-renewables-are-cheapest-new-build-power/GenCost2018.pdf

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Bazz,
Is that really all ships? Or just all ships in Europe?

I'm amazed NSW power is that reliable. [Can another NSW resident confirm or deny it really is?]

>Batteries fairy land stuff, you would never get them recharged in time for the next blackouts.
What timespan do you assume that to be?

>The priority of renewables getting the load undercuts their income.
Of course, and I never pretended otherwise. But that's a good thing - we shouldn't have to pay so much to subsidise inefficient power stations.

>Re maintenance, I am told that they cut back on maintenance but only
>to minor extent, they still needed them on line.
Are you referring to privatisation here? Or response to renewables?

Aidan,
does the burning of gas leave an environmental footprint ?

from the Net

A Norwegian University of Science and Technology study published in 2012 by Yale University in the Journal of Industrial Ecology, detailed the impact of manufacturing electric cars compared with manufacturing gasoline-powered cars. The results were surprising, as the study revealed that while the carbon emission impact of electric vehicle usage was less than gasoline-powered cars, the overall production impacts of electric vehicles are more significant than conventional vehicles primarily due to the environmental harm caused during the mining and processing of the raw materials used for the cars’ batteries.

Reading through the comments here, I have to say that most of you are talking sense, but it's a good thing that Aidan isn't running anything or making decisions. It's OK to talk rubbish as an anonymous poster on the internet; thankfully he is confined to the keyboard.

Electric cars? They need twice the copper used by conventional cars, therefore more copper mining. Oops, mining is 'bad' isn't it.

Hi there AIDAN...

Thank you for your most comprehensive answer. Heavy Industry would need to find better and more efficient ways to obtain power other than relying on electricity. From where would they find this source of energy, Nuclear? By employing the older diesel-electric locomotives to generate power in times of heavy usage - wouldn't these diesel loco's emit unacceptable levels of pollution?

AIDAN, there's no doubt your hearts in the right place. But the only way to ensure reliable, affordable, and sustainable power, and if coal is out of the equation, then it's got to be Nuclear. Our technology at present is not sufficiently advanced, to fully harness the necessary power needed from the Sun, wind, or wave technology. One day soon perhaps, but just not yet, unfortunately.