September 3, 2012
Australia
Australia
Are wind farms reducing carbon emissions?
by Patrick Mitchell | 774 ABC Melbourne | abc.net.au 3 September 2012
by Patrick Mitchell | 774 ABC Melbourne | abc.net.au 3 September 2012
A Darlington-based mechanical engineer claims wind farms aren’t reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Hamish Cumming spoke to Prue Bentley on Mornings about his analysis of Australia’s electricity supply and demand.
Mr Cumming analysed two-year’s worth of supply and demand data from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and additional information from coal and gas fired power stations.
He said such power stations continue to burn fossil fuels while renewable energy sources are contributing to the grid.
“You might as well not have the wind turbines turning because we’re already paying for the coal fired base load for generation anyway”, Mr Cumming said.
The Clean Energy Council has rejected Mr Cumming’s findings on wind farms.
Tim Sonnreich also spoke to Mornings presenter Prue Bentley and said wind farms have helped reduce the need for new coal fired power stations.
“And that’s something nobody expected 2-3 years ago, particularly in Victoria,” he said.
He also pointed to AEMO data highlighting the strength of the wind industry in South Australia.
[Also on Matt and Dave Reloaded, Tuesday September 4 (link):
[See also: “Facts About the Savings of Fossil Fuel by Wind Turbines in the Netherland”]
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/03/are-wind-farms-reducing-carbon-emissions/