<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/biggest-threat-to-affordable-and-reliable-electricity-in-victoria-it-might-just-be-peter-dutton/>
"Major energy market reports based on extensive sets of modelling are often a
challenge to cover. Depending on the media outlet, the first best angle tends
to hone in on the subject judged to be of biggest interest to that outlet’s
audience at a certain point in time.
In the case of Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy,
published on Tuesday,
Renew Economy reported on the independent body’s
recommendation that the state push much harder on the uptake of home batteries
and the coordination of consumer energy resources.
The
Financial Review and
Nine newspapers, meanwhile, focused on warnings of
energy shortages and power bills “forecast to soar.”
The latter headline-grabber is plucked from the depths of the 93-page Aurora
Energy Research report, which models that in one scenario of eight – a “low
weather year” – prices could spike to similar highs as during the fossil fuel
crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (see chart below).
But what everyone seemed to miss – or overlook – is that one of the biggest
threats to a reliable and affordable electricity supply in Victoria over the
coming 30 years can be traced back to one man – Peter Dutton.
That’s because, according to modelling from Aurora, one of the best ways
Victoria can avoid high risk, high price-driving outcomes like running its old,
unreliable coal plants longer than planned, becoming a net importer of energy,
or running low on renewable generation capacity, is to build offshore wind –
and to build it fast.
And one of the biggest threats to the offshore wind industry is Dutton’s
federal Coalition, with its promises to scrap declared development zones,
including one in Victorian waters, and tear up contracts, including for a 1.2
gigawatt Victorian project that was last week awarded a feasibility licence by
federal Labor."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
