Once-in-50-year storm blacks out South Australia – naysayers rush to attack renewables

More than 20 electricity transmission towers destroyed by SA storm
Credit: Debbie Prosser/The Advertiser

On the afternoon of Wednesday 28 September, a once-in-50-year storm, with winds up to 130kph¹ & more than 80,000 lightning strikes,² occurred in South Australia. Direct damage included more than 20 electricity transmission towers². In total, 3 items of critical distribution infrastructure were destroyed. Other items of infrastructure responded to protect themselves, as planned, by shutting down.³

Result for the residents, was a state-wide failure of electricity supply.

Coincidentally, at over 40%, SA is leading the nation in adoption of renewable energy.⁴

Just to be clear – the loss of power in SA was totally unrelated to the source or capacity of generation. Failure occurred because of the loss of critical distribution infrastructure.^5,6,7

Unfortunately, some, mainly on the conservative side of Australian politics, have seen this as an opportunity to attack renewable energy.⁸

The lights go out in SA & Turnbull flicks the switch to peak stupid
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/oct/01/the-lights-go-out-in-sa-and-turnbull-flicks-the-switch-to-peak-stupid

Coalition launches fierce attack against wind & solar after blackout
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/coalition-launches-fierce-attack-against-wind-and-solar-after-blackout-93841
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¹ ABC: “SA weather as it happened: Wild winds, flooding continue; thousands without power for second night”, “Intense low pressure system crossed South Australia on Thursday with winds gusting to 130kph”, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-29/south-australia-recovers-from-power-outage-live-blog/7887000

² The Weekend Australian: “SA power outage: Josh Frydenberg answers your questions”, Josh Frydenberg, MP, Minister for the Environment & Energy, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/south-australia-power-outage-why-we-need-energy-security/news-story/68020ed34622d5f7e0254d890b9c53ae

³ ABC: “SA power outage: How did it happen?”, “SA Premier Jay Weatherill confirmed two tornadoes destroyed three elements of critical infrastructure, which led to the power system protecting itself with a shutdown”, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-28/sa-power-outage-explainer/7886090

⁴ Renew Economy: “South Australia wind energy jumps to 43% in July”, http://reneweconomy.com.au/2014/south-australia-wind-energy-jumps-to-43-in-july-88992

⁵ The Sydney Morning Herald: “Why South Australia's power blackout could happen here”, “SA’s power outage was not the result of too many solar panels or wind turbines, as suggested by our Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, but rather severe winds & lightning. In particular, several of the major transmission line towers that form the backbone of SA’s power supply were bent over like matchsticks by the extreme winds.”, http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-south-australias-power-blackout-could-happen-here-20160929-grr7rm.html

⁶ Crikey: “South Australia's blackout explained”, https://www.crikey.com.au/2016/09/29/south-australias-blackout-explained/

‘According to [Electranet Network Services executive manager Simon] Emms, South Australia’s energy generation mix was irrelevant. “The cause of it is unrelated to the type of generation we lost & we do have,” he told ABC 891 this morning.’

‘Clean Energy Council policy manager Tom Butler told InDaily there was no evidence that South Australia’s reliance on renewable electricity was a factor in the blackout. He said that all power generation types — even if coal-fired electricity were still being produced in South Australia — would have shut down automatically during a weather event such the one experienced last night.’

‘Australian Conservation Council campaigns director Paul Sinclair concurred. “If South Australia was powered entirely by coal, rather than by 40% clean renewable energy, as it is, this blackout would still have happened,” he said. “In fact, at the time of the outage, wind power was pumping out 1000 megaWatts — it was working.”’

⁷ The Huffington Post Australia: “No, Renewable Energy Didn't Cause South Australia's Blackout”, http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/09/28/no-renewable-energy-didnt-cause-south-australias-blackout/

⁸ HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech: “The bullshit asymmetry”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-bullshit-asymmetry.html

/ wind solar wind turbine solar panel hydro hydoelectricity hydo-electricity hydo electricity storage battery sustainable renewable energy sustainable energy sustainability lights go out SA Prime Minister Turnbull peak stupid PM ridiculed state renewable targets South Australian blackout targets meet his own emissions targets emissions promises Turnbull convince climate deniers climate sceptics political party impact on power prices electricity prices renewables keep the lights on big storm global warming climate energy debate peak stupid Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull campaign use South Australian blackout black out blackout black-out shift to clean energy state renewable energy targets extremely unrealistic all the evidence says state targets exactly what Australia needs meet promises prime minister made Paris last reducing greenhouse gases consistent national policy reach those goals former Prime Minister Tony Abbott abolition of the carbon price winding back federal renewable energy target lengthy debate abolished altogether dried up investment renewable energy consistent credible national policy officials admitted Senate inquiry undertaken no modelling how meet target Turnbull pledged Paris reducing Australia’s emissions 2030 target ratify target Australia’s legal obligation modelling analysis all conclude Liberal Party National Party Coalition current policies introduce significant new policies shift electricity generation away from coal towards renewables more quickly conclude state targets Victoria’s 40% renewables 2025 South Australia 50% by 2025 Queensland 50% by 2030 what he is going to have to try to achieve Climate Change Authority report concluded electricity generation produce zero emissions well before 2050 goal Climate Institute modelling phase out high-carbon generation next 15 to 20 years energy crunch after 2030 cause severe economic disruption Reputex report Coalition current policies reach its own targets state-based renewable energy schemes desperately needs credible consistent national policy reduce emissions power generation government shift generation fossil fuels renewables keep the lights on minimise increase power costs switch intensity-based emissions trading scheme electricity sector Labor party policy win bipartisan support policy Turnbull proposed opposition leader energy market regulator Australian Energy Market Commission operate without significant effect absolute price levels consumers government Direct Action business community current watered-down federal renewable energy target Turnbull energy minister Josh Frydenberg electricity grid better able to cope increasingly frequent bouts of extreme weather convincing climate sceptics impact on power prices renewable energy keep the lights Malcolm Roberts One Nation senator climate denier climate sceptic Galileo movement prime minister promises made Paris shift electricity generation to renewables state targets conservative wing renewable energy left wing plot economic shock ideology government putting ideology before sensible policy planning irresponsible policy vacuum /