ttbn,
>Albanese has said he wants to ‘end the climate wars’ and create a ‘renewable energy superpower’. Inevitably,
>that means we’re going to be buying solar panels from China and there will be a greater frequency of blackouts.

Despite your political views, I'm surprised to hear you make a claim so stupid. Don't you live in the state that has Australia's highest proportion of solar and wind power and has had Australia's most reliable electricity supply since we got the first big battery?

>Without reliable baseload power, Australia will lose any hope of an independent
>manufacturing base and the low income earners will be the first to suffer.

Exactly which manufacturers do you think would be adversely affected by none of the power coming from dedicated baseload generators, and why?

The West has really shot itself in the foot this time.
The whole western world will pay for this sanctions policy by the United States.

You know it's ok when they sanctioned all these other countries, we just ignored it because we weren't impacted by what we we're doing, but now here we are.

No more oil and gas for Europe unless you pay in ruble
No more grain to put in your mouths and no more fertiliser to grow your own.

Western countries are now coming crawling back like an ex-gilfriend.
I'm sorry I miss you, I'm not sure I can live without you.

Bulgaria reconsidering ruble gas payments
http://www.rt.com/business/556020-bulgaria-reconsidering-ruble-gas-payments/
(Not sure why it matters when Germany is still getting Russian oil and gas, all this is just about payment in Roubles and a war the west itself effectively started in 2014)

U.S. to ease a few economic sanctions against Venezuela
http://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/17/us-ease-venezuela-sanctions-maduro-00033082

We're sorry we made you eat cats and dogs, lets be friends again...
Then we got this:

A fertilizer shortage, worsened by war in Ukraine, is driving up global food prices and scarcity
http://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/06/a-fertilizer-shortage-worsened-by-war-in-ukraine-is-driving-up-global-food-prices-and-scarcity.html
- Apparently the world only has 10 weeks of wheat supply...

China's export growth slows sharply as zero-COVID rules hit economy
http://www.dw.com/en/chinas-export-growth-slows-sharply-as-zero-covid-rules-hit-economy/a-61731968
- No more cheap goods from China, major supply issues

Where have all the truck parts gone?
http://www.ccjdigital.com/maintenance/article/15066337/truck-parts-among-supply-chain-casualties
Further supply chain issues

Understanding the science behind the neon shortage
http://www.advancedsciencenews.com/understanding-the-science-behind-the-neon-shortage/
No more semiconductor chips.

We thought we could just sanction others and use global trade as a weapon and there would be no consequences.
Now we are copping what we've done to others.
Putin and Xi are playing chess.

- Checkmate -

Furthermore, if China wants to take Taiwan, there's not much anyone can do about it.

If the US tries to overstretch itself into Chinese waters for a full scale war, all their ships will be sitting on the ocean floor like the Moskva.

We're not "subsidising" foreign electric car manufacturers. We're just reducing the high tariffs we put on them earlier - a big difference.

The original aim of the high tariffs was to delay the introduction of electric cars in order to maximise the ongoing tax revenue from fuel purchases and maintain corporate profits.

As well as being the global dumping ground for high emission petrol cars that don't meet certain international standards we've been left behind as a market for their ultimate replacement.

Aidan, SR,

While the cost of coal and gas prices has increased, the rising % of renewables has put pressure on the prices continually and with coal-fired generators due to shut in the near term, the costs are due for further sharp increases.

Note that wholesale prices in Victoria nearly doubled when Hazelwood closed and the wholesale prices don't reflect the subsidies that are added to consumer power bills later. If renewables are so cheap then there is no justification for the huge subsidies.

SR, Gas reservations for the local market would increase availability but the cost of gas is pegged to the international prices.

Both of you need to do your homework before posting bollocks.

First comment to make in this thread is, and it is very important,
the change to electric cars is being made because the car companies
took notice of oil company official announcements that they were
planning to exit the oil industry !
That did not make much news but it was made to the AGM of Royal
Dutch Shell in 2017. BP has changed its motto to Beyond Petroleum.

Second comment lithium is not needed for electrical network batteries
as Nickle Iron batteries are very reliable and will go forever.
They can be maintained easily, but require more space, so what, not
as much as solar farms.

The big problem with wind and solar is the trick;
It is true that wind and solar produces very cheap electricity.
The trick is to get it 24/365 100% of the time. A normal maintenance
and breakdown excess is needed but 100% uptime is wx dependant with
wind and solar.
The only solution around that is to have multiple times sites and generation.
Also it requires a much more complex and more capable grid system.
One that can send power from where she blows to where its needed.
The CSIRO suggests a rebuilt grid at a cost of One Trillion Dollars.
Hmm, I'll bet Albo didn't put that into his spreadsheet.
Also I do not think that included Western Australia.
It would be easier to make it work if the west was included.
As we have seen, Germany and Britain are too small for W&S.
It is all a lot harder than the greenies tell us.