Batteries superior to polluting coal plants

IN REPLY to “O.F. of Mount Low” (TB 28/9), the science and economics works like this: battery materials prevent the burning of coal and gas by storing cheap excess solar electricity during the day and releasing it at a profit during evening peak high price periods.

Battery materials are recyclable using renewable energy and therefore emit little carbon dioxide per unit of electricity over their life.

Coal plants, however, emit vast quantities of CO2 and are finding that they cannot compete with the combination of cheap solar and wind and storage, even without a carbon tax.

Coal plants were never designed to stop and start and must burn some coal 24/7. In response to pressure like this, coal generators are experimenting with storage using hydrogen but the writing is on the wall as recent losses by AGL, Origin and Stanwell attest.

GLENN WHITE,

Kelso.