this post was submitted on 07 Jan 2025
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The big lie she tried to repeat is that NEW fossil plants are cheaper than renewables. In 2019, in US, new FF peaker (cheapest) plants cost over $1/watt, while solar was under $1/watt. FF plants have operating and fuel costs. Solar panels have since dropped 20c/watt since then.
The Australian market has the most developed home solar costs/penetration in the world. It is successful because utility, largely legacy, power is expensive/extortionist. AUS wholesale electricity market averages between 11c to 20c per kwh.
$1/w solar provides a 3% yield/year at under 2c/kwh in AUS for 30 years, which has very high solar production capacity. LFP batteries, now down to 10c/watt also has a 30 year lifespan at 4 hours storage, and is 3% yield at 1c/kwh discharge - charge margin.
6% interest rates means 6c/kwh from solar and 3c/kwh from batteries pays for project with full leverage. Free money at just 10c/kwh revenue. Winfalls at higher revenue rates. Actual solar costs are below $1/watt and interest rates below 6%, and what needs to improve.
As for jobs, new energy is jobs. Adding x gw of solar per year is permanent jobs even if there is little operating staff. Growing x each year is permanent job increases every year.
Australia is amazing for solar. I wish Canada would step up and fix our damn regulations. It’s insanely more expensive to install household rooftop solar here vs Australia. I’m so jealous!
Cost is entirely based on monopoly utility power, and their power to refuse connection. Australia does have a good 40%+ solar production advantage over Canada though, but Canada does have "net pricing" which banks long summer surpluses for winter.
They do not care about facts. The suffering is the point.
It's either sadism or greed with the right. Flip a coin.
It's probably more greed in this context though.