The Myth of a Fossil Fuel Phase-Out

BRUSSELS — How the world uses energy is a hot topic for a warming planet, and fears of pollution and resource strain have produced a virtual arms race of energy-efficiency strategies. From the European Union to China, economies are vowing to reduce their energy intensity with the help of technological innovations and legislative changes.

Rumaila natural gas powerstation, north of the southern Iraqi port of Basra. 

Yet, despite these promises, consumer demand for energy is forecast by the International Energy Agency to rise until at least 2040. With the world’s energy needs growing, how can policymakers guarantee supply?

To put it bluntly, the world has nothing to worry about when it comes to reserves. After 40 years of fearing energy shortages, we have entered an era of abundance. We need to guard against false narratives, not scarce resources.

The culprit of this storyline is the Club of Rome, a global think-tank that, in the 1970s, spurred energy anxiety with its absurd prophecies derived from questionable models. As devoted followers of Thomas Malthus and Paul Ehrlich, the club argued that bad things come from exponential growth, and good things from linear growth. This idea fueled the prediction that the world would run out of oil by 2000.

Read the Medium story by Samuele Furfari - “The Myth of a Fossil Fuel Phase-Out.”

Global carbon emissions hit record high in 2018, International Energy Agency says

Greater demand for energy and more extreme temperatures saw global carbon emissions reach a record high in 2018 partly because of higher coal use, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Global carbon emissions rose by 560 million tonnes last year.

Carbon emissions rose by 1.7 per cent in 2018 to a record 33.1 billion tonnes, with coal making up one third of the total increase, according to the IEA's Global Energy and CO2 Status Report.

That is despite energy generation from wind and solar farms growing at a double-digit pace.

Most of the electricity generated by coal came from new power plants in Asia.

Coal use rose 0.7 per cent last year, with higher demand for coal coming from Asian countries, including China and India.

Read the story from ABC News by Sue Lannin - “Global carbon emissions hit record high in 2018, International Energy Agency says.”

Scott Morrison slaps down Barnaby Joyce on coal in damaging Coalition split on energy

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is facing a damaging Coalition split on energy and a bitter Nationals row on leadership after he pushed back at demands to help fund a new coal-fired power plant in Queensland, widening a policy gulf inside the government just two months out from the election.

Barnaby Joyce with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Moderate Liberals ridiculed their Nationals colleagues as unworkable and economically illiterate, with one, Brisbane MP Trevor Evans, describing proponents as “a very small and lonely minority whistling Dixie on this”.

Mr Morrison sparked concerns among the junior Coalition partner by countering calls for government help for the power project, putting him at odds with former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce in a new test for the "marriage" of the two parties.

Read the story from The Age by David Crowe - “Scott Morrison slaps down Barnaby Joyce on coal in damaging Coalition split on energy.”

New research finds hydropower dams unsustainable in the developing world

Hydropower is an important source of energy and makes up more than 70 per cent of all renewable energy globally as of 2016.

New research has shown that large-scale hydropower
 dams are unsustainable in the developing world.

However, new research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, has found that large-scale hydropower dam projects have had an adverse effect on the environment.

In the 1970s, the construction of dams began in developing countries, notably along the Mekong River Basin and the Congo River Basin.

Read the ClimateAction story by Rachel Cooper - “New research finds hydropower dams unsustainable in the developing world.”

Billionaire calls out “total BS” on Morrison’s views of wind and solar

Mike Cannon-Brookes.

Yesterday we wrote about Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s interview on Sky News, and how appallingly well it summed up his party’s cynical and ill-informed view – and complete lack of coherent policy – on both climate change and energy.

But, of course, we weren’t the only ones to take exception to the discussion with Sydney shock-jock Alan Jones and former Abbott advisor, Peta Credlin.

In particular, Morrison’s comments on energy were called out by billionaire tech entrepreneur and investor, Mike Cannon-Brookes, who vented his frustration at what he called ” total BS” via his Twitter account (the same one used to invite Tesla’s Elon Musk to build a big battery in South Australia, and we all know how that ended).

Read the story by Sophie Vorrath from RenewEconomy - “Billionaire calls out “total BS” on Morrison’s views of wind and solar.”

Sweating on solar

WHETHER OR NOT FOUR LARGE-SCALE SOLAR FACILITIES GO AHEAD CONCERNS

While more solar developments for the region are welcome, a set of long-awaited guidelines to help guide locations should be released first, State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed says.

This week, the Victorian Government revealed new solar and wind farms will pump more than 900 megawatts of energy into Victoria’s grid following the state government’s reverse auction.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio on Tuesday announced six successful projects, including the Cohuna solar farm, north-west of Echuca, that will produce 34.2 MW, while Winton solar farm near Benalla will produce 98.8 MW.

Building will start early 2019 and they are expected to be completed in 2020.

But some within the Greater Shepparton region are sweating on the outcomes of four largescale solar facilities, decisions currently with the planning minister’s office, which had been set to be released some time this month.

This process is also set to create a set of guidelines to assist the planning of future such developments.

Ms Sheed says it is concerning that ‘‘more projects are being announced when we don’t yet have the guidelines’’.

‘‘And that’s really what we all want to see happen,’’ she said.

‘‘You get out the draft guidelines, let us comment, let us start looking at what the ideal positions are for these types of projects and let’s not stop them from (going) where they’re desirable.’’

The government ran a reverse auctions scheme which saw project developers compete to be the lowest-cost provider.

Ms Sheed said renewable energy was a welcome chapter in the local energy story, given the Shepparton area’s suitability for it, adding she doesn’t ‘‘detect any opposition to solar in our community’’. The only issue remains location.

‘‘We really have a big concern over solar farms being located on modernised, irrigated agricultural land.’’

Regarding the four pending solar decisions, Ms Sheed stressed the region was ‘‘very keen to get an answer on those as soon as possible’’.

‘‘It’s seven months since it’s been referred to the minister.

‘‘There’s neighbours to these projects who are really concerned about what solar might do to their farming enterprises.’’

‘‘And let’s get some guidelines in place to protect our valuable agricultural land in this region.’’

This story by Thomas Moir is from The Shepparton  News - “Sweating on solar.”

‘The time for excuses is over': Energy ultimatum delivered to states

A high-powered coalition of business, energy and agricultural groups have laid down the gauntlet to Labor state governments, demanding they pass the National Energy Guarantee this week or voters will pay the price. 

Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg.

The Labor led cabinets of Victoria and the ACT are set to debate their position on the contentious policy on Monday, days before Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg calls on them to sign up before it heads back to the Coalition party room.

The ultimatum from the Business Council of Australia, National Farmers’ Federation, Australian Energy Council and three other lobby groups warns "households cannot afford the costs of yet another cycle of political sparring, indecision and inaction”.

Read the story from The Age by Eryk Bagshaw and Peter Hannam - “‘The time for excuses is over': Energy ultimatum delivered to states.”

Sorry climate, energy and ocean, must dash

Letter from today's Age:

5 Ways to Reduce the Drivers of Climate Change.

Climate change is fundamentally a development issue. It threatens to exacerbate poverty and hurt economic growth. At the same time, how countries grow and the investments they make to meet the energy, food and water needs of an expanding population can fuel climate change, raising risks worldwide, or contribute to solutions.

Bus rapid transit has reduced traffic and
increased connectivity in Guangzhou, China.

In a lecture to students at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., on March 18, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim laid out five key areas where policies and growth choices can help reduce the drivers of climate change.

“We have to keep the economy growing – there is no turning back on growth,” President Kim told the student audience. “What we have to do is decouple growth from carbon emissions.”

Read the report from The World Bank - “5 Ways to Reduce the Drivers of Climate Change.”

There’s a low-energy alternative to cremation

The choices you make in life affect the environment. And so do the choices you make about death. For example, a traditional burial involves embalming chemicals that can seep into the ground. And cremation requires a lot of energy. So some people are now turning to a process that’s been called “flameless cremation.”

The alternative to traditional burial and cremation.

Cattoni: “The process is very similar to what the body intended us to do originally when we pass away, and that’s just to break itself down.”

Ryan Cattoni of Aquagreen Dispositions in Illinois says a warm alkaline solution is used to break down the remains.

Read the story by Eileen Mignoni from Yale Climate Connections - “There’s a low-energy alternative to cremation.”

Victorian Government offers cash incentive to help households get better energy deal

Every Victorian household will get a $50 bonus for visiting an energy comparison website, in an election-year giveaway to encourage people to find better power deals.

More than 700,000 people had used the website
in the past three years to cut their electricity bills.

But the State Opposition accused the Andrews Government of trying to bribe voters by investing $48 million for the power-saving bonus in next month's budget.

Households will be eligible for the payment if they use the Energy Compare website between July and December, which shows consumers the best tariff for them based on their electricity and gas use.

People are not obliged to take up an offer or switch plans to be eligible for the $50 bonus.

Premier Daniel Andrews said a typical household had saved $330 on their energy bills in the first year alone by using the website.

Read the story by Jean Edwards from ABC News - “Victorian Government offers cash incentive to help households get better energy deal.”

Frydenberg’s Neg challenge is like climbing Everest with no oxygen

For folks who aren’t hardcore climate and energy policy tragics, it might be hard to stay on top of the various twists and turns in the debate about the national energy guarantee. This is a good weekend to take stock.

Josh Frydenberg is doing his best on the national energy
guarantee – within the constraints he faces. 

If you were watching events on Friday, you’ll know the federal energy minister Josh Frydenberg has persuaded the states and territories to keep going with the Neg, but just hold that thought. To understand all the dimensions of this debate properly, and I think there’s value in laying it all out – we’ll need a brief recap, then we’ll need to look over the horizon to chart where it’s all going.

The Neg is supposed to deal with two problems. The policy’s reliability and emissions framework is aimed at ensuring the lights stay on at something like an affordable price for energy users, and emissions decrease in the electricity sector so we have some vague hope of meeting our international climate commitments.

Read the story by Katherine Murphy from The Guardian - “Frydenberg’s Neg challenge is like climbing Everest with no oxygen.”

Clean & Reliable Power: Roadmap to a Renewable Future

The Climate Council has released a roadmap outlining how Australia can cut its rising greenhouse gas pollution levels, while continuing the transition to clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy and storage technology.

The ‘Clean & Reliable Power: Roadmap To A Renewable Future’ report features 12 key policy principles for any national energy and climate policy framework, including calls for the rollout of a minimum 50-70% renewable energy target across Australia by 2030.

The ‘Roadmap To A Renewable Future’ framework recommends Australia continues to transition away from its ageing, polluting and inefficient coal and gas fleet and encourage investment in a new clean power supply. The report calls for pollution targets which can be ratcheted up along with transparent tracking and reporting of carbon pollution levels.

Read the Climate Council story by Andrew Stock - “Clean & Reliable Power: Roadmap to a Renewable Future.”

Push for controversial waste-to-energy centre at Fishermans Bend

Melbourne could be burning its waste for energy within a decade, as a booming population and China’s ban on accepting recycling combine to force more drastic steps to tackle the city’s mounting rubbish problem.

Lord mayoral candidate Jennifer Yang is backing a push
for a waste-to-energy facility in Fishermans Bend.

And Jennifer Yang, a candidate in the byelection to elect a new lord mayor of Melbourne, has put forward what she says is an “urgent, comprehensive feasibility study” into a new waste management, recycling and water treatment centre in Melbourne’s Fishermans Bend area.

Read the story from The Age by by Ben Miller and Clay Lucas - “Push for controversial waste-to-energy centre at Fishermans Bend.”

‘Big issue': Turnbull government's energy plan may curb state ambition

The Turnbull government is set for showdown with states and territories over its signature energy policy after new details of the plan revealed any additional efforts by the states to curb carbon emissions would not count towards the national target.

The emissions intensity of the power sector is on the increase.

A key policy design paper circulated among the states at the weekend and obtained by Fairfax Media appears to  recommend a review of the emissions reductions target only every five years and provides for exemptions of trade-exposed companies that constitute as much as a fifth of demand.

The exemption will be welcomed by manufacturers such as steelmaker Bluescope, but critics of policy regard aspects of the plan including the five-year reviews as inflexible at a time when the energy market is changing quickly.

Read Peter Hannam’s story from The Age - “‘Big issue': Turnbull government's energy plan may curb state ambition.”

Poverty of vision is holding back Australia’s energy transition

The presentation below was given at the very successful “Smart Energy Conference” 2018 in Sydney. The presentation has graphs which attempt to illustrate the story below.

Read the story by David Leitch from RenewEconomy - “Poverty of vision is holding back Australia’s energy transition.”

Powering Forward: The National Energy Guarantee - Josh Frydenberg

Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg addressed the National Press Club today on the topic 'Powering Forward: The National Energy Guarantee’.

Watch his presentation. 

World invested more in solar energy than coal, gas and nuclear combined in 2017, UN report reveals

Global investment in renewable energy shot up last year, far outstripping investment in fossil fuels, according to a UN report.

China was largely responsible for the surge in
 solar energy infrastructure in 2017, accounting
 for nearly half the global investment. 

As the price of clean energy technology plummets, it has become an increasingly attractive prospect for world governments.

China was by far the world’s largest investor in renewable energy in 2017, accounting for nearly half of the new infrastructure commissioned.

This was mainly a result of its massive support for solar power, which globally attracted nearly a fifth more investment than in the previous year. Other countries including Australia, Sweden and Mexico more than doubled the amount of money they pumped into clean energy projects.

Read the story by Josh Gabbatiss from the Independent - “World invested more in solar energy than coal, gas and nuclear combined in 2017, UN report reveals.”

How to ensure resilience in the grid of the future

Recently it was reported that a political dispute between Serbia and Kosovo is sapping a small amount of energy from the local grid, causing a domino effect across the 25-nation network spanning the continent from Portugal to Poland and Greece to Germany.

Collapsed electricity pylon
after a tornado in Australia.

“The deviation from Europe’s standard 50 Hz frequency has been enough to cause electric clocks that keep time by the power system’s frequency, rather than built-in quartz crystals, to fall behind by about six minutes since mid- January.”

This is a good example for a phenomenon known as the fragility of complex systems: the tendency for multilayered and interconnected systems like electricity grids, transport networks (think gridlock) and the world health system (think pandemics and antibiotic resistance) to become increasingly prone to failure as layers of organisation and connectivity are added.

Read the piece from energypost by Mark Bryne - “How to ensure resilience in the grid of the future.”

Tensions rise inside the Coalition over energy policy

Senior cabinet ministers have offered sharply different public positions over the future of new coal in Australia, as tensions inside the Coalition deepen over energy and climate policy.

Treasurer Scott Morrison rejected calls for the government
to build a new coal-fired power station.

As the Turnbull government applied new pressure on energy giant AGL to keep its ageing Liddell coal-fired power station open beyond its planned closure date, a “ginger group” of Coalition MPs ramped up demands for direct federal investment in a new coal-fired power station, claiming the intervention would lower power bills and plug a potential supply shortfall.

The so-called Monash Forum has caused friction inside the government, with ministers arguing privately the real aim of disgruntled MPs like Tony Abbott, Barnaby Joyce and Eric Abetz was to undermine Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s authority as he seeks the agreement of the states and territories for his National Energy Guarantee.

Read Mark Kenny’s story from The Age - “Tensions rise inside the Coalition over energy policy.”