Rushed, ill-planned energy transition needs costly quick-fix

To achieve the 82 per cent renewables target by 2030, the federal government disregarded fundamental engineering principles, assuming challenges could be managed along the way (“82 per cent of no chance”, 4/2).

This approach has led to supply volatility and network congestion – issues that proper planning could have anticipated, particularly the need for extensive transmission upgrades.

The well-documented intermittency of renewables and the limitations of batteries were also overlooked. Now, it is clear that renewables require a backup that is both weather-independent and flexible: the answer is natural gas.

However, state and federal government policies in recent times have stifled gas exploration and discouraged investment in the industry. Now, in a bid to stabilise the grid, they are scrambling to fast-track gas projects. This transition has been rushed and poorly engineered, making the necessary fixes both difficult and extremely costly.

Don McMillan, Paddington, Qld

The average Australian struggling to meet costs at the supermarket checkout may not associate their pain with the government’s energy strategies; but rather place the blame on some anonymous big business. Well, big business has spoken.

Their problems are identical to those of the householder. Quite simply, they cannot afford the increasing price of power, giving them no choice but to pass on the costs: a luxury not afforded the grocery consumer. How can inflation possibly be tackled while this vicious cycle continues?

Kim Bockos, Oatlands, NSW

Your editorial points to the failings of the Albanese government to deliver on its energy and environment promises of the last election (“Albanese is running out of time to get energy in order”, 4/2).

The most obvious is the oft-repeated promise in the lead-up to the election to lower power prices for households by $275 over the term of the parliament.

The withdrawal of Labor’s “nature-positive” plan is purely political. It’s about sandbagging federal seats in Western Australia secured at the 2022 election. Their retention at this year’s election is critical to Labor’s hope of a second term. It has promised not to form a minority government with the Greens in the event of a hung parliament, but to save itself the ignominy of a “oncer” it may well succumb to the temptation. It’s possible that the nature-positive plan may be part of the deal, with the mining and agricultural industries the sacrificial lambs.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

Judith Sloan points to two main areas of economic policy outcomes that could put Australia up there with Venezuela and Argentina in wilful economic self-harm (“Zealots of net zero steer us even closer to energy disaster”, 4/2).

We have an “electricity grid overloaded with subsidised renewable energy and insufficient firming backup” and the “madness of the policy-induced importation of LNG”.

Will we finally wake up when the lights go out, manufacturing industries are gone, poverty is rampant in society, and covetous adversaries lust after our vast natural resources? Energy policy is at the heart of everything in modern society.

Peter R. Tredenick, Laidley, Qld

I am growing increasingly tired of hearing people say batteries can only power an economy for about 20 minutes.

My husband and I have a home battery and it has enabled us to become energy self-sufficient.

We don’t need to power our house for days on end from the battery, as our solar panels produce enough electricity on even the bleakest of days to run the house and recharge the battery. We are not concerned that we are suddenly going to be blacked out, and the nation shouldn’t be either. It’s simply a matter of having enough renewable energy and enough battery storage to cover all circumstances.

And before anyone says it’ll be too expensive, please note that we are on track to pay it all off in about seven years.

Corinne Gaston, Concord, NSW

It was reported that Rachel Reeves, UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, said there was no trade-off between net zero and economic growth. You have to feel sorry for the British: she’s in charge of the Treasury.

Roseanne Schneider, Toowoomba, Qld