Who is Online

We have 624 guests and no members online

Conclusion

Carbon Sequestration and Storage is very likely a non-starter as a real solution to climate change and the implications of this for the Garnaut analysis and the CPRS are dire.

For the CPRS to have a real impact on carbon dioxide release, and consequent accelerated climate change, the existing NSW energy dependent economy must seriously contract.

In the absence of CCS and to avoid serious negative economic impacts, the original CPRS concept needs to be castrated by exempting (or issuing free allocations under the cap to them) the largest carbon users in the economy; effectively removing its constraints on carbon dioxide release particularly in the energy and trade exposed sectors.  This modified CPRS will discriminate against small-scale domestic industries and consumers, distorting the economy in unpredictable and, very likely, harmful ways.

A viable alternative is to immediately take steps to introduce nuclear electricity generation in NSW (and Australia).  This would obviate the need for a CPRS.

Richard McKie
2008/10


Footnotes: 


[1] http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/resources/coal/coal-industry

[2] Not actually sequestration – this is generally viewed as CO2 generating.

[3]International Energy Agency (IEA) data – quoted in Wikipedia

[4] The atomic weight of carbon (C) is 12 and oxygen (O) 16 so: C + O2 → CO2 and: 12 + 32 → 44 or: 1 tonne → 3.667 tonnes. Different coals have considerable variability in ash (6.5% to 30%) and volatiles (half carbon by weight 20.8% to 37.9%) depending on grade and purpose. If we estimate the carbon content of NSW coal to average around 75% (local) and 90% (export) coal production that year equates to roughly 24.8 million tonnes of carbon burnt locally and 80 million tonnes exported in 2005-6.

[8] U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

 

 

No comments

Travel

The Greatest Dining Experience Ever in Bangkok

A short story

 

The Bangkok Sky-train, that repetition of great, grey megaliths of ferroconcrete looms above us.   

All along the main roads, under the overhead railway above, small igloo tents and market stalls provide a carnival atmosphere to Bangkok.  It’s like a giant school fete - except that people are getting killed – half a dozen shot and a couple of grenades lobbed-in to date.

Periodically, as we pass along the pedestrian thronged roads, closed to all but involved vehicles, we encounter flattop trucks mounted with huge video screens or deafening loud speakers. 

Read more: The Greatest Dining Experience Ever in Bangkok

Fiction, Recollections & News

The Craft - Preface

 

 

 

Preface: 

 

The Craft is an e-novel about Witchcraft in a future setting.  It's a prequel to my dystopian novella: The Cloud: set in the the last half of the 21st century - after The Great Famine.

 As I was writing The Cloud, I imagined that in fifty years the great bulk of the population will rely on their Virtual Personal Assistant (VPA), hosted in The Cloud, evolved from the primitive Siri and Cortana assistants available today. Owners will name their VPA and give him or her a personalised appearance, when viewed on a screen or in virtual-reality.

VPAs have obviated the need for most people to be able to read or write or to be numerate. If a text or sum is within view of a Cloud-connected camera, one can simply ask your VPA who will tell you what it says or means in your own language, explaining any difficult concepts by reference to the Central Encyclopaedia.

The potential to give the assistant multi-dimensional appearance and a virtual, interactive, body suggested the evolution of the: 'Sexy Business Assistant'. Employing all the resources of the Cloud, these would be super-smart and enhance the owner's business careers. Yet they are insidiously malicious, bankrupting their owners and causing their deaths before evaporating in a sea of bits.  But who or what could be responsible?  Witches?

Read more: The Craft - Preface

Opinions and Philosophy

Electricity Pricing

 

 August 2012 (chapters added since)

 

 

 

Introduction

 

The present government interventions in electricity markets, intended to move the industry from coal to renewable energy sources, are responsible for most of the rapidly rising cost of electricity in Australia.  These interventions have introduced unanticipated distortions and inefficiencies in the way that electricity is delivered.

Industry experts point to looming problems in supply and even higher price increases.

A 'root and branch' review of these mechanisms is urgently required to prevent ever increasing prices and to prevent further potentially crippling distortions.

Read more: Electricity Pricing

Terms of Use

Terms of Use                                                                    Copyright