EXPOSE THE TRUTH ABOUT RENEWABLES
DISCUSSION of the latest draft Integrated Resource Plan for electricity (IRP 2018) is now well under way.
The debate however will rage on for many months and possibly years. Hopefully, the authorities will listen to the realities that have been expressed by a number of interested parties.
It is well known that the renewable lobby with powerful vested foreign, idealistic, financial interests and media lobbyists behind them have dominated public debate.
Contrary to comments by some observers, the IRP 2018 has quite rightly not been well received by many recognised bodies such as the Nuclear Industry Association of SA, the Fossil Fuel Foundation and the Coal Transporters’ Forum.
However, the protest against the IRP 2018 is also strongly supported by the metalworkers union Numsa and NUM, and advocacy groups such as the Free Market Foundation, Transform SA and the SA Energy Forum. These bodies recognise the true realities of renewables.
They have recognised that energy poverty is increasing in all countries with high penetration renewables. These protesting bodies are supported by a number of energy economic and environmental specialists and professionals who are aware of the facts in the real world.
Renewables do not create permanent jobs on the scale nuclear or coal provide. In addition, any jobs created are lower level jobs as opposed to the highly-skilled engineers, mining engineers, nuclear engineers, architects, geologists require for the generation of electricity by coal and nuclear power.
Studies indicate the decline in mining and coal mining alone could cost the country some 150000 jobs.
Together with the carbon tax, a study by Econometrix in 2015 for the Davis Tax Commission found that over 15 years it could well slow economic GDP growth by more than R1trillion, and reduce employment growth by more than 5 million jobs.
Renewables have failed in Germany, Australia and Ontario. In many other countries they have led to increasing energy prices
The facts of the real world and real economies must be faced. Renewables have failed in Germany, Australia and Ontario. In many other countries they have led to increasing prices of electricity. In fact, they have led to changes of government in Australia and Ontario. Both these governments are cancelling the previous renewable growth plans.
The lobby groups for renewables cannot point to any country or state in the world where electricity generation from solar and wind has resulted in lower electricity prices or where economic growth and employment has increased. This is because they do not exist. Prices in Germany and Denmark are over 60% higher than France (nuclear) and over 70% higher than Poland (coal). It should be pointed out that India, China and the ASEAN countries are expanding their High Efficiency Low Emissions (HELE) or clean coal generation.
In summary, South Africa cannot afford expensive renewables and not use the cheaper dispatchable power offered by HELE coal and nuclear.
The real world shows clearly that it will result in South Africa heading down a road of total socio-economic destruction, where economic progress will be set back for a generation.