Wind turbines

[M61A1]

Depends what you call Socialism. Plenty of quite successful European economies are socialist according to American standards; and they have better quality of life and more equitable income distribution than good old capitalist USA.

The problem is what some people call successful is not necessarily a place I would like to live. Overtaxed, and over regulated, sounds like where we are headed (well on the way). They are no better off than well fed, well looked after cage chooks.

[fly_tornado]

I think you have confused socialism with office work

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

The problem is what some people call successful is not necessarily a place I would like to live. Overtaxed, and over regulated, sounds like where we are headed (well on the way). They are no better off than well fed, well looked after cage chooks.

So what's different in "capitalist" countries? (Our big cities are not much different to feedlots for humans.)

[M61A1]

So what's different in "capitalist" countries? (Our big cities are not much different to feedlots for humans.)

CHOICE

 

[Old Koreelah]

People in socialist Europe have cheaper housing than Sydney and Melbourne. They have better access to public transport and public services.

 

What choices do we have that they don't?

 

 

[spacesailor]

The choice to move there, with-out being a Refugee.

 

But do they let people fly their own planes?.

 

spacesailor

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Yep. Socialist Europe builds and exports lots of little aeroplanes.

 

 

[facthunter]

If you cannot afford any house I don't see what "choice" of houses has got to do with it.. I think we place too much stock on living in a big fancy house, and owning it. It takes a Lot of time and effort to look after it and ties up too much Capital. Cars and houses are the bulk of our life's spending. There must be more to than that. If Americans get really sick they go broke, rather fast. No money No help No hope. Cuba would be better. I have a few friends who have regularly gone there. Musicians. But if you have that Country stamped on your passport you didn't get into USA till Obama changed a few things Nev

 

 

[facthunter]

Less regulations to fly planes in the eastern block than here . Nev

 

 

[fly_tornado]

CHOICE

you don't have any real choice in Australia, why don't you emigrate? Sad that your desire for comfort and security overwhelms your desire for CHOICE

 

 

[fly_tornado]

THE largest operating single stage solar farm in Australia is being built on the outskirts of Townsville.

 

On-site work began on the Ross River Solar Farm in September last year.

 

Project director Lyndon Frearson said construction was expected to finish in the third quarter of this year.

 

“Following commissioning during the third quarter of 2018, the Ross River Solar Farm is expected to be operational towards the end of this year,” he said.

 

Given the scale of the solar farm, hundreds of people will be employed while the project is built, according to Mr Frearson.

 

“At present, around 90 workers are on-site and nearly $15 million of work has been contracted out to local subcontractors and suppliers,” he said.

 

“To date over 50 Queensland businesses have received work through this project. At the peak of construction, up to 250 workers are expected to be employed on-site.”

 

Downer Utilities is the lead engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project. Construction management is being led by Palisade and technical consulting firm Ekistica.

 

Mr Frearson said work was on schedule despite the rain in Townsville earlier this year. The $225 million project will generate 148 megawatts.

 

Mr Frearson said when completed, it was expected to be the largest operating single-stage solar farm in Australia.

 

“When operational it is expected to produce enough clean electricity to power over 54,000 houses across Queensland every year,” he said.

 

A road to the site, perimeter fencing, an on-site office and facilities for the construction team were part of the initial build stages.

 

“Following site establishment, the on-site construction team has worked to install steel piling supports for the solar panels,” Mr Frearson said.

 

“Piles are being fixed into the ground using single-operator drill and pile rigs.”

 

In an incredible number befitting how big the project is, more than 62,000 piles will be installed on the site to hold more than 413,000 solar panels.

 

One of the world’s leading solar panel manufacturers, JA Solar, is playing a key role in the project.

 

Mr Frearson said the Shanghai-based company was producing the solar panels, which are in the process of being delivered to the site now.

 

“Deliveries will come via the Port of Townsville in one of the largest shipping consignments to come through the port,” he said.

 

This is the next major focus of the construction work on the renewables project.

 

Recently a 105-tonne transformer was delivered to the site.

 

Mr Frearson said the transformer would “step up” the voltage of the electricity generated by the solar farm to 132kV for use in the local electricity transmission system.

 

There are numerous solar plants planned or being built throughout the broader Townsville region at the moment.

 

Mr Frearson said the Ross River Solar Farm would use the region’s abundant sunlight to produce clean, zero-emissions electricity.

 

“The site location is also in close proximity to urban areas where sustainable, renewable electricity is needed,” he said.

 

 

[Flying Binghi]

"...Renewables Rip-Off: Despite $4 Billion in Annual Subsidies, Wind & Solar Delivers a Trivial 2% of Australia’s Power Demand..."

 

"...Ex-Nationals senator Ron Boswell wrote in “The Australian” today, (19 April 2018), making the point that the RET is failing us and forcing electricity prices through the roof, putting ordinary folk in energy poverty and destroying businesses..."

 

Renewables Rip-Off: Despite $4 Billion in Annual Subsidies, Wind & Solar Delivers a Trivial 2% of Australia’s Power Demand

 

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[Flying Binghi]

Russia have the world's worst nuclear and environmental performance bar none. Where would you just plug such a thing IN. From a ship which stops where the water stops. If it's required somewhere else it goes there relatively slowly. That's how ships work. IF you had such a thing in a capitalist society they could (and would) hold you to ransom as has been done in South Australia where the power was available but not supplied. Price gouging was the go.Portable,( sort of) and BASE LOAD. Really.!! If you turn it on and off it's not base load. How is it cooled. By sea water? How safe is that? nuclear MAY have a future but not the type we have been using. The "Investors" want the grid. It's a monopoly. Best way to make lots of money They won't let it go without a fight..Nev

I suspect the Russians are looking to the near future when many of the silly western nations have urgent need of stop gap power to make up for the massive short falls of the eco-loon wind and sunbeam power. If they develop a fleet of nuclear power station ships that can be dispatched to any port in a mater of weeks they will start rakeing in the money... well, they are already. Russian gas is powering Europe right now...

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[fly_tornado]

I thought Ron Boswell died but has just retired, good research bingi

 

I like how you use Ron's opinion as a sort of factual statement

 

 

[facthunter]

Looking at you references, Not hard to see why you are so one eyed. Poor old Ron Boswell. For years out of touch with anything new and a good old protectionist in the ancient Wheat Sheaf party mould. Coal is over, Binjhi. It's near impossible to get anyone to invest in it. The "clean" Coal idea is a con.and if even it's ever done it will make it so expensive as to realistically rule it out on cost alone. The Rockefella's got out of fossil fuel years ago and their fortune was oil based. Nev

 

 

[fly_tornado]

Crikey! Australia Zoo goes solar, with 648kW of PV

 

 

Australia Zoo, the Queensland native wildlife park founded by the late “crocodile hunter,” Steve Irwin, is going solar with a 648kW PV array – the largest of any zoo in Australia.

 

Local commercial solar specialist GEM Energy said on Thursday that it had been selected to install the huge PV system on the zoo’s landmark “Crocoseum” rooftop, with work starting this week.

 

The PV system is expected to cut the “significant” amount of power the zoo draws from the local grid in Beerwah, in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast, and in doing so, slash its electricity costs and emissions.

 

In a statement on Thursday, GEM Energy said the solar system had been designed to meet the park’s “complex energy needs,” including heating pumps and pools, kitchens and retail shops, spread over hundreds of acres.

 

“Australia Zoo was paying a significant amount for their power and it’s a real honour to be able to help them operate more efficiently and reach conservation goals through renewable energy,” said GEM Energy national sales manager Aaron Hilton.

 

“Our in-house engineers … have been able to satisfy stringent network requirements in an area of limited infrastructure and bring this project to fruition.”

 

The array is expected to generate 21GWh, or 21 billion-watt hours over 25 years and cut the zoo’s emissions by 16,500 tonnes, GEM Energy said.

 

Australia Zoo director Wes Mannion said the investment would allow the park to put even more resources into conservation.

 

“Our ultimate goal here … is to have a world class facility and reinvest our proceeds into saving wildlife and wild places around the world,” he said.

 

“By installing solar, it helps us two-fold – we’re contributing to the reduction of emissions in our own environment, and we’re also saving a substantial amount on electricity long term.”

 

Australia Zoo is not the first of it kind to tap renewable energy – although, according to the Climate Council, it’s solar array will be the largest of any zoo in the nation.

 

Elsewhere, the Perth Zoo has a 237kW PV system installed across a number of buildings, that generates up to 30 per cent of its electricity needs.

 

Back in Queensland, Townsville’s Reef HQ aquarium has installed a 206kW system; while in South Australia, Zoos SA have installed solar at its Montarto Zoo (99kW), and 140kW at the Adelaide Zoo.

 

Zoos Victoria have installed a total of 188kW across their sites in Melbourne, Healesville and Weribee, and has also claimed the title of the first zoos in the world to be certified carbon neutral.

 

And in NSW, Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo has installed a total of 109kW – 99kW of which is ground mounted.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

"...Renewables Rip-Off: Despite $4 Billion in Annual Subsidies, Wind & Solar Delivers a Trivial 2% of Australia’s Power Demand...""...Ex-Nationals senator Ron Boswell wrote in “The Australian” today, (19 April 2018), making the point that the RET is failing us and forcing electricity prices through the roof, putting ordinary folk in energy poverty and destroying businesses..."

Renewables Rip-Off: Despite $4 Billion in Annual Subsidies, Wind & Solar Delivers a Trivial 2% of Australia’s Power Demand

 

Those horey old chestnuts have long since been put to bed, FB.

 

I'm sure that renewables do enjoy substantial government assistance, as any clean sunrise industry should.

 

What your side of the argument likes to ignore is the colossal subsidies still enjoyed by fossil fuels- they're not start-ups, but are raking in subsidies of up to $11 billion per year in Australia alone.

 

Fossil fuel subsidies | Market Forces

 

Fossil fuel subsidies are a staggering $5 tn per year | John Abraham

 

America's 'hidden subsidies' for fossil fuels are worth $170 billion a year

 

I'll move this debate over to the Off topic site, WUA. please follow me.

 

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[Flying Binghi]

...I like how you use Ron's opinion as a sort of factual statement

"Factual statement.." ?

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[Flying Binghi]

Looking at you references, Not hard to see why you are so one eyed. Poor old Ron Boswell. For years out of touch with anything new and a good old protectionist in the ancient Wheat Sheaf party mould. Coal is over, Binjhi. It's near impossible to get anyone to invest in it. The "clean" Coal idea is a con.and if even it's ever done it will make it so expensive as to realistically rule it out on cost alone. The Rockefella's got out of fossil fuel years ago and their fortune was oil based. Nev

"Looking at you references, Not hard to see why you are so one eyed..." How so ?

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[facthunter]

So they are not biased at all in your mind.?. You posted the Links..Nev

 

 

[Flying Binghi]

So they are not biased at all in your mind.?. You posted the Links..Nev

?

Are you saying the link I posted is biased or that I am biased and use links that support my writings ?

 

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[fly_tornado]

Binghi, once you let your pride stop you admitting your misjudgement, you find yourself forced to double down on that misjudgement.

 

 

[facthunter]

Flog your dead horse somewhere else. I haven't noticed you listening to anyone's views that oppose yours. I'm not going to be badgered by you either. People get sick of that approach. fast. Nev

 

 

[Flying Binghi]

Flog your dead horse somewhere else. I haven't noticed you listening to anyone's views that oppose yours. I'm not going to be badgered by you either. People get sick of that approach. fast. Nev

Oh, i see. Your the one claiming my links are biased (as to what?) and not offering up reasoning for it. As to "listening"... seems I am barely able to get a post in edge ways between the distracter post thread bombardment from other posters.

via facthunter, "...Coal is over, Binjhi. It's near impossible to get anyone to invest in it..."

 

Via focusing on one country alone I have clearly demonstrated in this thread via the links to recent Indian commentary on the massive doubling in their current coal rail network and the building of whole new rail lines to new Indian coal mines that this is not the case.

 

There is also the fact that an Indian based company is looking to establish more coal mines in Australia to further help India get power to the 250,000,000 Indians that do not currently have access to cheap reliable coal based power.

 

Just waving a hand and claiming coal is over and that we should just build wind towers is not only Not looking at the facts, it is bordering on a religious type of deliberate ignorance of the facts.

 

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[Flying Binghi]

regardless of what the gov says to placate the coal lobby the investment is obvious[ATTACH=full]54834[/ATTACH]

I still haven't seen any reply to my questions about this chart ?

fly_tornado, what's this "net additions" ?

 

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