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In Australia – unsubsidized renewable energy is now cheaper than fossil fuels

Bloomberg -- Unsubsidised renewable energy is now cheaper than electricity from new-build coal- and gas-fired power stations in Australia, according to new analysis from research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

This new ranking of Australia’s energy resources is the product of BNEF’s Sydney analysis team, which comprehensively modelled the cost of generating electricity in Australia from different sources. The study shows that electricity can be supplied from a new wind farm at a cost of AUD 80/MWh (USD 83), compared to AUD 143/MWh from a new coal plant or AUD 116/MWh from a new baseload gas plant, including the cost of emissions under the Gillard government’s carbon pricing scheme. However even without a carbon price (the most efficient way to reduce economy-wide emissions) wind energy is 14% c

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Submitted Feb 11, 2013 By: nerde

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MadFueler Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:1,084 Points:200,960 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 11:03:32 AM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse Australia's investors must be a lot more patient than ours.
drpepperTX Champion Author Texas Posts:9,165 Points:779,850 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 6:11:39 AM Ignore drpepperTX Report Abuse I think the worse of the two is the deceitful journalism SammyAdams. The ignorance of the readers is a choice.
goldseeker Champion Author West Virginia Posts:19,763 Points:2,747,490 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 1:04:14 AM Ignore goldseeker Report Abuse About time.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,201 Points:821,285 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 11:17:53 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse The sad reality is that (hidden within this article) the disparity between renewables (like wind and solar) and fossil fuels is caused by TAXING fossil fuels in order to make it appear as though the renewables can compete without subsidies. Even the title of the article gives this false impression. Judging from many GBs response, the author's sleight of hand has worked. And the "greenies" are now gloating saying: "See, I told you that that we can compete with fossil fuels" when, in fact, it is based on deceit; a tactic that often gives life to their falsehoods. I wonder which is worse: 1) Lack of journalistic integrity or 2) Inept readers?
Night Owl Champion Author Toronto Posts:7,690 Points:1,814,900 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 11:00:20 PM Ignore Night Owl Report Abuse Interesting.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,407 Points:1,770,380 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:47:42 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse What happens when the wind dies?
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:2,105 Points:2,551,690 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:29:18 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse good for them
prorodeo2012 All-Star Author Bakersfield Posts:539 Points:188,895 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:27:23 PM Ignore prorodeo2012 Report Abuse interesting
arb0526 Champion Author Greensboro Posts:2,117 Points:438,320 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:26:55 PM Ignore arb0526 Report Abuse ok
EvPv Champion Author Maine Posts:1,186 Points:294,375 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:26:17 PM Ignore EvPv Report Abuse I wondered when the tech would bring it to this point.
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,306 Points:1,957,205 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:22:51 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse If they can do it there ....
KrsnaDragon Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,552 Points:559,225 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:21:35 PM Ignore KrsnaDragon Report Abuse Good news for Australia.
SteelPenny Champion Author Dallas Posts:31,303 Points:2,634,665 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:19:27 PM Ignore SteelPenny Report Abuse Keep it there.
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,118 Points:1,871,825 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:18:16 PM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse good for them?!?
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:6,112 Points:1,304,675 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:18:01 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse There is a lot to learn here.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,307 Points:1,651,065 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:17:02 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse The major milestone for wind power has been meet for clean and renewable wind power in Australia. Now the world shall follow Australia's lead. A few here still cannot comprehend that all fossil fuel has a limited life expectancy. When it's gone, it is GONE.
srchr Champion Author San Jose Posts:7,396 Points:1,647,750 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:16:23 PM Ignore srchr Report Abuse problem is, they need to build the fossil fueled plants as backup when the wind don't blow
stefanwaggoner All-Star Author Bakersfield Posts:562 Points:151,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:15:02 PM Ignore stefanwaggoner Report Abuse imagine that the oil companies will never let it happen here
AnObserver Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,494 Points:2,285,480 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:14:52 PM Ignore AnObserver Report Abuse Interesting if they aren't taxing the hell out of fossil fuels
bridgerunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,927 Points:1,034,535 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:14:47 PM Ignore bridgerunner Report Abuse Interesting indeed!
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:6,550 Points:1,324,120 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:14:25 PM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse There's a lesson to be learned here.
Glock26 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,654 Points:658,135 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:12:14 PM Ignore Glock26 Report Abuse Interesting!!!
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,201 Points:821,285 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:22:33 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse Reposted messages from earlier to keep GBs from being deceived by title. Message Posted (By SammyAdams): Feb 11, 2013 10:10:23 Not true orphancarguyPE (in your Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:23:37 AM), what "subsidies" (overt or hidden) are you referring to? It's the renewable energy generating that is receiving the subsidies, government grants, and low cost loans (which if they don't repay, it's the same as a gift). I am unaware of any subsidies received by the oil and gas industry. And regarding "nuclear" energy, WHEN was the plant built? The last nuclear plant to go online was at Watts Bar in Tennessee and it cost BILLION$, because of the cost overruns resulting from government regulations. Spending 1.3 billion NOW for an additional 30 years of service seems fairly cheap. And consider the fact that money TODAY has been robbed of value by the Federal Reserve through that "hidden tax" called "counterfeiting" . . . uh, I mean "inflation". Even regarding the cost comparison (in this article) here in Aussie land, it is only cheaper for renewables AFTER factoring in a carbon tax. Note from the article: "large-scale solar PV will also be cheaper than coal and gas, when carbon prices are factored in" Let's compare "apples with apples". ============================================================= Message Posted (By Cellsite): Feb 11, 2013 10:20:17 AM Good post, @SammyAdams. Also, what is absent in this article is the fact that regardless of how much wind power is built, you still have to have enough conventional (read reliable 24/7/365) power capacity to handle the entire load. Wind and solar are intermittent unreliable sources of power. Neither of them diminish the need for building conventional generating plants using oil, gas, coal, or nuclear. Yet, it's the wind farms that get subsidies in this country, and conventional power gets policy after policy dumped on it's back. O'bummer and his EPA gestapo have it all backwards.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,201 Points:821,285 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:10:36 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse Those of you who read only the title and NOT the article are being totally deceived. Whereas in Australia these renewables may not be receiving subsidies, the "non-renewables" are hit with a "carbon tax" to make it appear as though renewables like wind and solar can compete "toe to toe". This just is not true and GBs should not be so gullible. Read my post (Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:10:23 AM) and the one by Cellsite (Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 10:20:17 AM) to better understand the sleight of hand employed by this author.
grt197 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:712 Points:153,265 Joined:Jan 2013	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:02:05 PM Ignore grt197 Report Abuse ok
Godozo All-Star Author Gary Posts:723 Points:582,340 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 9:00:54 PM Ignore Godozo Report Abuse Would be Australia – the one nation where Man is NOT the high point in the food chain.... Anyway, good for them. One nation down, hopefully the rest of us can follow.
Zeke33 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:5,662 Points:1,636,055 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:39:18 PM Ignore Zeke33 Report Abuse Unsubsidized is the key word here.
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,476 Points:639,520 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:38:30 PM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse Like the sound of that
dasimon All-Star Author Florida Posts:556 Points:573,050 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:37:56 PM Ignore dasimon Report Abuse Cool
WIWalt Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:1,857 Points:442,190 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:37:04 PM Ignore WIWalt Report Abuse Good for them
WillyG Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,694 Points:933,770 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:36:41 PM Ignore WillyG Report Abuse I like that !
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:8,355 Points:1,600,785 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:35:47 PM Ignore DABEE1073 Report Abuse It should happen here.
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,347 Points:845,470 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:29:28 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse you go matey
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:5,683 Points:1,067,765 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:27:38 PM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Doesn't quite ring true somehow.
maciek Sophomore Author Illinois Posts:143 Points:1,115,660 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:24:05 PM Ignore maciek Report Abuse Oh I do not know ...
bouncing4fun All-Star Author Sacramento Posts:618 Points:157,960 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:21:41 PM Ignore bouncing4fun Report Abuse ok
drz614 Champion Author Harrisburg Posts:2,444 Points:626,295 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:18:40 PM Ignore drz614 Report Abuse bvrbill: why not?
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:9,695 Points:2,649,700 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:17:49 PM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse How long do the wind turbines last?
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,445 Points:546,325 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:15:53 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Works for Austrailia. Won't necessarily work here.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:8,057 Points:1,601,705 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:14:57 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse Private industry prevails
NoGas714 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:754 Points:773,130 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:10:18 PM Ignore NoGas714 Report Abuse So that's where all our subsidized green projects end up.
k2kipp Champion Author Minnesota Posts:3,238 Points:1,148,700 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:07:17 PM Ignore k2kipp Report Abuse Australia... doing it right.
MG_Sputnik Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:7,439 Points:1,988,570 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:05:44 PM Ignore MG_Sputnik Report Abuse Not much relevance in this part of the solar system.
naspa Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,417 Points:380,600 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:05:07 PM Ignore naspa Report Abuse I like this story. Doesn't this tell ya that oil is on it's way out?
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:15,121 Points:1,469,045 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 8:03:23 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse "Cost of emissions"? Isn't that a tax on carbon dioxide? If you make coal and natural gas more expensive with "cost of emissions"... wouldn't renewables become more competitive? I would rather have known the cost of electricity. In Australia it looks like it is going up.
billwho All-Star Author El Paso Posts:647 Points:279,180 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 7:58:40 PM Ignore billwho Report Abuse Good article. What does it have to do with the price of eggs in China. Would like to see Bloomies articles about good old USA. Who is doing what to screw joe consumer.
Bezalel Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:12,239 Points:2,318,435 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 7:58:30 PM Ignore Bezalel Report Abuse Both Canada and the U.S. have vast areas with low populations. Much of Texas and Wyoming is like this. Canada has about 10% of our population and possibly more land mass.
gass12 Champion Author Omaha Posts:8,533 Points:2,332,370 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 7:58:10 PM Ignore gass12 Report Abuse Some good and some bad.
DrGasPain Veteran Author Dallas Posts:362 Points:478,550 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 7:57:49 PM Ignore DrGasPain Report Abuse Good for them! Unfortunately (ha ha ha all the way to the bank) we have plentiful and cheap both natural gas and coal to produce some of the cheapest electricity in the world, which is good for our economy, manufacturing etc. Sounds like we might have found the perfect place for Obama to move to! Everything like he would like it!
skybiker Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,413 Points:1,587,590 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 11, 2013 7:56:48 PM Ignore skybiker Report Abuse Free market works!!