Leigh Creek mine closure puts 250 out of work as SA outback town faces uncertain future


Alinta Energy's open-cut coal mine at outback Leigh Creek in South Australia is closing today, putting about 250 people out of work.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/leigh-creek-mine-closure-puts-250-out-of-work/6945876


Why is the coal sector dying?

More countries switching to nuclear?

;)

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 9:29am:

More countries switching to nuclear? ;)

There is some new nuclear builds and uprates going on, but in 2014 over 60% of new builds were renewable worldwide.

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 9:29am:

More countries switching to nuclear? ;)

France, the once pin up for nukes ... is heading to greens renewables rather than dirty nukes.

FRANCE is on the right path to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, according to a new report by energy body Ademe.

The study from the government body says an all-green electricity supply would not be much more expensive than a nuclear-renewable hybrid, around €119 per megawatt hour.

According to Ademe, wind power represents the biggest opportunity in France, potentially making up 63% of total energy use by 2050, followed by 17% solar panel, 13% hydroelectric and 7% geothermal.

The French government has set a 40% renewable energy target by 2030 in its latest energy transition law.

Ademe president Bruno Lechevin said the 100% scenario by 2050 mentioned in the report is achievable if technological progress brings production costs down, and assuming electricity consumption in France falls slightly through better efficiency.

The energy body warns, however, that to be achievable, supply and demand would have to be very closely monitored to ensure that the cheapest and most efficient source of energy is available at all times.
- See more at:

http://www.connexionfrance.com/ademe-renewable-energy-2050-nuclear-power-17363-view-article.html#sthash.3fB5OOSJ.dpuf

Nuke, like coal, are dying sectors.

'According to a new Greenpeace analysis, in the first nine months of 2015 China’s central and provincial governments issued environmental approvals to 155 coal-fired power plants — that’s four per week.

The numbers associated with this prospective new fleet of plants are suitably astronomical.'

http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2015/11/11/chinas-coal-bubble-155-new-overcapacity/

Not in China.

lee wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 9:58am:

'According to a new Greenpeace analysis, in the first nine months of 2015 China’s central and provincial governments issued environmental approvals to 155 coal-fired power plants — that’s four per week. The numbers associated with this prospective new fleet of plants are suitably astronomical.' http://energydesk.greenpeace.org/2015/11/11/chinas-coal-bubble-155-new-overcapacity/ Not in China.

While China’s coal consumption growth has slowed down, and fell in 2014, coal-fired power generating capacity continues to grow rapidly. This apparent contradiction has led some observers to conclude that China’s coal consumption growth is bound to resume.

But the evidence suggests otherwise. Instead the continued buildup of coal-fired power plants represents an investment bubble that will burst as overcapacity becomes too large to ignore.

One coal plant per week

If there is one factoid that every media consumer knows about energy in China, it must be that the country is “building one coal power plant per week”.

While coal-fired power generation capacity growth has slowed from the peak years – 2006 saw the equivalent of 1.5 large units added every week – the rate of coal-fired power plant additions and construction initiations in China is still breathtaking: 39 gigawatts were added in 2014, or three 1000MW units every four weeks, up from 36 gigawatts in 2013.

Coal plants built – but not used

At the same time, power generation from coal fell by approximately 1.6% in 2014, due to record increases in power generation from hydropower, wind, solar, nuclear and gas, along with slower power consumption growth.  Total coal consumption, including coal use outside of the power sector, fell by anywhere between 0.5-2.5% according to different preliminary statistics and estimates.

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/new-coal-power-plants-in-china-a-bubble-waiting-to-burst-46927

____ wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:15am:

Coal plants built – but not used

Yep, those Chinese - really obtuse.

____ wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 9:27am:

Leigh Creek mine closure puts 250 out of work as SA outback town faces uncertain future Alinta Energy's open-cut coal mine at outback Leigh Creek in South Australia is closing today, putting about 250 people out of work. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/leigh-creek-mine-closure-puts-250-out-of-work/6945876 Why is the coal sector dying?

BECAUSE OF THE GREENS "PANIC"..

we will all die by 2013....if.. >:( >:(

lee wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:18am:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:15am: Coal plants built – but not used Yep, those Chinese - really obtuse.

Building white elephant coal plants keep the economy from falling into recession.
That's until the coal bubble bursts.

cods wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:20am:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 9:27am: Leigh Creek mine closure puts 250 out of work as SA outback town faces uncertain future Alinta Energy's open-cut coal mine at outback Leigh Creek in South Australia is closing today, putting about 250 people out of work. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-17/leigh-creek-mine-closure-puts-250-out-of-work/6945876 Why is the coal sector dying? BECAUSE OF THE GREENS "PANIC".. we will all die by 2013....if.. >:( >:(

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____ wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:47am:

lee wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:18am: ____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:15am: Coal plants built – but not used Yep, those Chinese - really obtuse. Building white elephant coal plants keep the economy from falling into recession. That's until the coal bubble bursts.

hasnt it already  burst I mean...I thought you guys had managed to ruin that business already... well in OZ at any rate.. ::) ::)

Coal is in a long term, irreversible decline, cods.

I am happy that that is so, mining coal kills mine workers, burning coal kills thousands due to the particulate and heavy metal emissions from burning coal.

Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, do need nuclear to provide the energy intense power for industry.

cods wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:49am:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:47am: lee wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:18am: ____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:15am: Coal plants built – but not used Yep, those Chinese - really obtuse. Building white elephant coal plants keep the economy from falling into recession. That's until the coal bubble bursts. hasnt it already  burst I mean...I thought you guys had managed to ruin that business already... well in OZ at any rate.. ::) ::)

The repeal of the carbon tax saved the coal industry ... remember?

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:54am:

Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho,

Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy.

Greens doesn't even know what the revenue from the Carbon Tax or ETS is to be used for

____ wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 11:10am:

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:54am: Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy.

There speaks the indoctrinated mind.

If Australia needs a solar plant 500 x 500Kms how big will the installations America, France, Germany etc need?

Ludicrous. Nuclear is needed to supply baseload high intensity power to industry.

The bloody Greens even oppose more hydro. No wonder their support is shrinking.

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 10:54am:

Coal is in a long term, irreversible decline, cods. I am happy that that is so, mining coal kills mine workers, burning coal kills thousands due to the particulate and heavy metal emissions from burning coal. Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, do need nuclear to provide the energy intense power for industry.

This is largely a myth. Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters, and molten salt solar is capable too.

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:00pm:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 11:10am: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:54am: Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy. If Australia needs a solar plant 500 x 500Kms .

That's your created figure. Based on?

Maqqa wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 11:22am:

Greens doesn't even know what the revenue from the Carbon Tax or ETS is to be used for

You're a one trick troll monkey.

____ wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:40pm:

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:00pm: ____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 11:10am: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:54am: Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy. If Australia needs a solar plant 500 x 500Kms . That's your created figure. Based on?

My “created” figure? You are crapping on about 100% renewables yet you know nothing about how we can harvest that.

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:44pm:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:40pm: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:00pm: ____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 11:10am: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:54am: Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy. If Australia needs a solar plant 500 x 500Kms . That's your created figure. Based on? My “created” figure? You are crapping on about 100% renewables yet you know nothing about how we can harvest that.

Running for them hills aye.

Kytro wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:34pm:

Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters

Any new Hydro projects in Australia recently?

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:00pm:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 11:10am: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:54am: Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy. There speaks the indoctrinated mind. If Australia needs a solar plant 500 x 500Kms how big will the installations America, France, Germany etc need? Ludicrous. Nuclear is needed to supply baseload high intensity power to industry. The bloody Greens even oppose more hydro. No wonder their support is shrinking.

Have you got a source for those figures?

Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:44pm:

____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:40pm: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:00pm: ____ wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 11:10am: Jovial Monk wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 10:54am: Renewables cannot give 100% of a country’s energy tho, Rubbish. The planet can and will have 100% clean green cheap energy. If Australia needs a solar plant 500 x 500Kms . That's your created figure. Based on? My “created” figure? You are crapping on about 100% renewables yet you know nothing about how we can harvest that.

Yes, you created that figure  :D :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_7lA0HoMF8

The Photon Economy: Solar energy everywhere. David Mills (p1)

lee wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 1:52pm:

Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:34pm: Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters Any new Hydro projects in Australia recently?

Are there any new Nuclear?  The point was that renewable is capable of running high intensity requirements. It's not as tested as incumbent technology, but that was true of all power generation at some point.

"One thing I feel sure of... is that the human race must finally utilize direct sun power or revert to barbarism."

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Frank_Shuman.jpg/330px-Frank_Shuman.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Shuman

Kytro wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 2:20pm:

lee wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:52pm: Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:34pm: Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters Any new Hydro projects in Australia recently? Are there any new Nuclear?  The point was that renewable is capable of running high intensity requirements. It's not as tested as incumbent technology, but that was true of all power generation at some point.

The electric grid is in constant evolution one could almost say. It wasn't built in a day from off the shelf neatly boxed products put together with allen keys  :D :D

The power of incumbancy is real but change is needed at some point: the precious ideas of economics should be known to all liberal voters- the relevant one I am thinking of right now is that of 'diminishing returns' !

;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58BWHJ9pQDw

- part 2

Kytro wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 2:20pm:

lee wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:52pm: Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:34pm: Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters Any new Hydro projects in Australia recently? Are there any new Nuclear?  The point was that renewable is capable of running high intensity requirements. It's not as tested as incumbent technology, but that was true of all power generation at some point.

You're the one proposing the efficacy of Hydro. That will require the enviro's to allow building dams in suitable areas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQhKDrJ0DFw
- part 3

..around the 14min37 seconds part he talks about imagining building a HVDC line to Indonesia or even further into Sth East Asia and exporting our deserts solar power!

"YA GOTTA THINK BIG!", he says!!

;)

lee wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 2:46pm:

Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 2:20pm: lee wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:52pm: Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:34pm: Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters Any new Hydro projects in Australia recently? Are there any new Nuclear?  The point was that renewable is capable of running high intensity requirements. It's not as tested as incumbent technology, but that was true of all power generation at some point. You're the one proposing the efficacy of Hydro. That will require the enviro's to allow building dams in suitable areas.

No he wasn't  :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D he was saying nuclear and coal are not the only things capable of producing so-called 'magical' base-load power  ;D

Dr DAVID MILLS SAYS THE BASELOAD CRAP IS JUST THAT: DENIER CRAP TRYING IT'S BEST TO ENSURE THE STATUS QUO OF THEIR DADDYS DADDYS DADDYS INVESTMENT DINOSAUR :D :D :D :D :D :D

Dont worry Nuclear is the future..

in 2012, germans announced that "Half of Germany Was Running on Solar Power"

http://www.treehugger.com/energy-policy/half-germany-was-powered-solar.html


However when you look at the statistics on Germany’s electricity sector for the whole of 2012 you see electricity output from renewables, especially from wind and solar, grew at a sluggish rate. Germany is however avoiding blackouts—by opening new coal- and gas-fired plants. Renewable electricity is proving very unreliable and chaotic.

https://www.bdew.de/internet.nsf/id/3EDCA15529136B0AC1257AFD0035A2F6/$file/130110%20BDEW%20Entwicklungen%20der%20deutschen%20Strom-%20und%20Gaswirtschaft_englisch.pdf

http://www.ag-energiebilanzen.de/componenten/download.php?filedata=1357206124.pdf&filename=BRD_Stromerzeugung1990-2012&mimetype=application/pdf


Something we seen in California "On days when these energy sources are thwarted by the weather, more reliable backup sources are needed. And more often than not, this means fossil fuels (especially natural gas) are used to fill the energy shortages caused by a large clouds or clear, breezeless days.This lack of reliability and consistency in solar and wind energy production necessitates the use of emergency backups – something that will only rise as California continues its transition to renewable energy sources."

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/09/local/la-me-unreliable-power-20121210


And again both Norway and Sweden is experiencing this problem.. And sadly and Germany is pays the price for switching off nuclear power

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610214017706

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-29/germany-pays-the-price-for-switching-off-nuclear-power/6895192

The future is nuclear either 

India won't need coal imports by 2017: Piyush Goyal

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/india-wont-need-coal-imports-by-2017-piyush-goyal/articleshow/49801341.cms?from=mdr

Because they will be self sufficient in coal.


Quote:

India won't need coal imports by 2017 NEW DELHI: Coal shortages will be a thing of the past and India won't need to import dry fuel by 2017, except to meet requirements of the power plants located near coastal area, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said today. "I have been on record to say that I judged that by 2017, India should not need to import coal except for those coastal plants where it is very difficult to transmit coal. I am fairly confident the era of shortages is over," Goyal said here addressing at a KPMG event EN ...

From Greens_10% link.

lee wrote on Nov 17^th, 2015 at 2:46pm:

Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 2:20pm: lee wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:52pm: Kytro wrote on Nov 17th, 2015 at 1:34pm: Hydro can and does run aluminium smelters Any new Hydro projects in Australia recently? Are there any new Nuclear?  The point was that renewable is capable of running high intensity requirements. It's not as tested as incumbent technology, but that was true of all power generation at some point. You're the one proposing the efficacy of Hydro. That will require the enviro's to allow building dams in suitable areas.

I was pointing out it has been used. and is renewable. There are other options also. The point is that it's wrong to say renewable energy cannot power intensive applications.

We need to repeat the Snowy scheme, using rivers like the Burdekin. More hydro, and we will be sending water to the south which is drying out due to AGW.

Q) Is Coal Our Future?

A) In the Short to Medium Term - YES, But Reducing!
    In the Medium to Longer Term - NO!

UK's coal plants to be phased out within 10 years

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-34851718

Replaced by gas, another fossil fuel if a bit cleaner than coal.

Could it affect coal production in Australia?

This agreement will add to other structural changes that are undermining the feasibility of new coal mine construction and expansion in Australia. Australia is already likely going to need to prematurely retire some thermal coalmining assets due to overinvestment during the mining boom.

Two of Australia’s largest export markets, India and China, have plans in place to limit thermal coal imports and prioritise domestic coal use over the coming years.

A successful Paris agreement would likely further compound this restriction in coal export demand and strengthen the case for limiting coal mine construction and expansion in Australia.

This agreement contributes to a number of growing forces which all have one clear signal: the future of coal production in Australia is bleak.


http://theconversation.com/explainer-how-the-oecd-agreement-deals-another-blow-to-coal-worldwide-50969

coal in China

'As of the end of 2014, China had 62 billion tons of anthracite and 52 billion tons of lignite quality coal. China ranks third in the world in terms of total coal reserves behind the United States and Russia.[6] Most reserves are located in the north and north-west of the country, which poses a large logistical problem for supplying electricity to the more heavily populated coastal areas.[7] At current levels of production, China has 30 years worth of reserves.[8] However, others suggest that China has enough coal to sustain its economic growth for a century or more'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_in_China

At a recent event China said they needed to start looking for replacement for coal within 100 years.

Unemployment ravages coal regions


Today, the ABS released its regional unemployment figures for October, which revealed that unemployment across Australia’s key coal regions is among the highest in the nation. From CommSec:

http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2015/11/unemployment-ravages-coal-and-tourism-regions/

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