good news, bad news,who knows!, page-2

Maan I reckon that its good, (bad for the greens though!)
latest news:
http://www.climatespectator.com.au/news/govt-decision-pushes-alinta-toward-solar-thermal
"The operators of two coal-fired power stations in South Australia will consider a switch to solar thermal electricity generation following a move by the federal government to abandon plans to pay some power stations to close down.

Alinta Energy owns and operates the 240 megawatt Playford Power Station and the 540mw Northern Northern Power Station at Port Augusta.

The Playford station is not currently operating and was one of those to be mothballed under the federal government's plan.

Energy Minister Martin Ferguson announced the so-called contract for closure program would be scrapped because coal-fired generators thought their assets were worth more than the government was willing to pay.

"Alinta Energy respects the federal government's decision to not proceed with the contract for closure program; clearly the views on commercial asset value were out of alignment," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

"In light of today's announcement, Alinta Energy is considering the implications for the Flinders assets in SA and the potential for investment in solar thermal power."

In the short term, Alinta said the Northern Power Station would continue to operate during the coming summer with the Playford station remaining available subject to market conditions.

Solar thermal has the potential to provide base load electricity by using large solar collectors to generate heat which is then used to drive turbines.

Port Augusta city officials have previously backed plans for a shift to the new technology."

It forces the change to continue:
http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/whats-cleaning-our-energy-supply
Shows a dropoff in emissions intensity!
extract:
"Demand for electricity supplied by NEM generators fell again, but only very slightly. Significantly, however, total emissions from electricity generation continued to fall sharply, and are now at their lowest level since 2003.

This is directly attributable to the changing mix of electricity generation: less black and brown coal, more gas, hydro and wind. While it is of course too early to say that there has been a definitive change in the generation mix, this change is exactly what placing a price on emissions is intended to achieve."

More importantly it frees up funds? perhaps for renewable energy projects. (per http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/ceramic-gets-tariff-for-fuel-cells-but-not-a-tipping-point-54509 )
extract:
"And while Neilson says that Ceramic doesn’t hold out any great hopes of getting government help in the form of capital subsidies any time soon, he says that they do see “great opportunity” in working with governments to install fuel cells at government buildings; in helping them to meet their greenhouse gas reduction commitments; and in the development of decentralised “virtual power plants.”

Neilson says Ceramic sees great potential in “energy transition projects” in areas like regional Victoria, where BlueGen units, perhaps combined with solar PV, could assist in the move away from more centralised coal power. Indeed, Ceramic has proposed (loosely) such a project to the Victorian government for the state’s coal hub, the La Trobe Valley.

But perhaps the biggest opportunity for companies like Ceramic, and technologies like the BlueGen fuel cell, lies in the creation of the CEFC, says Neilson. Geared, as it is, to assist in the commercialisation of products that are beyond R&D but not yet at scale, “CEFC could be a very good vehicle to get (our) products out and onto the market,” he said."
Cheers