Affordable, reliable energy is possible, says Professor Alan Finkel in Adelaide
SOLVING the “trilemma” of having energy that is affordable and reliable, while also meeting Australia’s climate-change targets will not be easy, but is possible, Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel says.
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SOLVING the “trilemma” of having energy that is affordable and reliable, while also meeting Australia’s climate-change targets, will not be easy, but is possible, Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel says.
Prof Finkel yesterday began a worldwide tour, sparked by South Australia’s devastating blackout, in Adelaide.
He is talking to people here and overseas about the national energy market as he prepares a report for government.
He said an emissions intensity scheme was still under consideration.
The Government swiftly backtracked on the idea of an EIS after Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said it was a possible solution.
His colleagues rounded on that idea as a politically deadly carbon-pricing scheme, and the idea was dropped.
But Mr Finkel, asked if he still thought it was a good idea, said he had total optimism — but not “naive optimism” — about the process. He also said he hoped the Council of Australian Government would treat the final report — due later this year — as serious and credible.
“We’re looking at everything that makes intellectual sense,” he said.
“It would be premature to come to a conclusion about what is best (yet).”
While discussion rages about the role of renewables in the energy market, he said their review was independent, with no direct influence from politics.
“We’re very aware of what is happening out there it we are operating independently in the sense that we listen to all (views),” he said.
The Renewable Energy Target is the lightning rod for those who want to see Mr Turnbull pay more attention to the conservatives in the party, particularly as One Nation looks set to win seats in state elections.
Yesterday Mr Turnbull was forced to deliver another gentle smack down to his predecessor, Tony Abbott.
Mr Abbott publicly argued for a reduction in the RET.
That was despite senior ministers having previously ruled out a change. Mr Turnbull again ruled out a change and pointed out that the target was originally Mr Abbott’s.
Prof Finkel said yesterday both that renewables weren’t the main reason for high energy prices, and that new large-scale solar and wind farms now cost the same to build as new coal generators.
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler called Mr Abbott’s remarks “sniping” and said Mr Turnbull had failed to stand up to the right wing of the party.
“By ruling out taking any effective action on climate change — like investing in renewables — it only means more investment uncertainty in our energy sector, undermining jobs, and further Dimi shine his already minuscule credibility as Prime Minister,” he said.