Guest essay by Eric Worrall
More evidence renewables are a political economic fantasy, and rely entirely on government fiat to survive.
Up to 11,000 renewable energy jobs could be lost under Morrison government policies
The job losses will be equivalent to the entire local coal industry if the renewable energy target is not replaced
Adam Morton Environment editor @adamlmorton
Thu 25 Jun 2020 03.30 AESTUp to 11,000 renewable energy workers are expected to lose their jobs over the next two years under current government policies, according to a university analysis.
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About 26,000 people are employed in renewable energy, but the study found this would fall to about 15,000 by 2022 under existing policies, including the Morrison government not replacing the national renewable energy target. The target, which requires energy companies to source about 23% of electricity from clean sources, was reached last year, triggering a 50% drop in large-scale renewable energy investment compared with 2018.
Conversely, renewable energy jobs would be expected to reach about 45,000 by 2025 under a “step change” scenario, set out by the Australian Energy Market Operator, consistent with the goals of the 2015 Paris agreement. The study says on this path employment in renewables would be likely to fall to about 30,000 as construction eased later this decade before rising again after 2030.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/25/up-to-11000-renewable-energy-jobs-could-be-lost-under-morrison-government-policies
I haven’t found a link to the UTS report (update – link to the report) which predicts 11,000 job losses, as far as I can tell UTS social media sites just link to the Guardian article, and the website is just a brochure. If anyone knows where to find a copy please post it in comments.
I feel sorry for people who trusted the promise of government support for renewable energy. Losing your job, especially in difficult times is never a good thing.
But the level of government support the renewable industry appears to require in my opinion demonstrates renewables are a significant drag on the economy. If the government decides to continue to support renewables, the economic drain of supporting renewables will make the recovery from the Covid crisis harder for everyone else.
Update (EW): h/t Lee – the report is available here.
Joe Biden knows they can be re-trained to code.
A classic case of “live by the sword, die by the sword”
Renewable jobs ? as we have seen over the years, claims about climate/renewables come in two types. Those that have failed to eventuate and those that have yet to fail to eventuate.
Classic alarmist drivel. You have 26,000 jobs in renewables and under Morrison’s plan there will be 30,000 and this means 4000 more people working in renewables but this means 15000 people jobs are lost. It’s like the funding cuts that are claimed by the ABC are in fact against a background of the same funds being spent. It’s the inflated expectations of activists that needs reining in.
They need to replace the “renewable” project. In exactly what way is a wind turbine or PV array renewable? It is a sunken cost system with a 15 to 25 year life span which is uniquely NON-recyclable and doubles or triples the end user electricity cost. I’m certain that these high energy costs will eliminate far fewer jobs than they create. It is simple Thermodynamics and Economics.
Replace the project with an energy cost reduction project. Invest in efficiency and distribution cost reduction projects and systems. Eliminate things which contribute to high energy costs.
Make it government policy to reduce and stabilize electricty and fuel prices, and create jobs and prosperity.
Solar power is no good for supplying the energy needs of a country , great for supplying power for a spacecraft or ontop of your motor home. Especially if it is heavily subsidised . If anything has to be subsidised it is uneconomic . Market forces (capitalism) must prevail if not huge distortions appear and the whole thing collapses . Australia’s only option (obviously) is Nuclear power . It has the Uranium , plenty of isolated space , low earthquake enviroment , highly skilled and educated workforce , its a no brainer !! All they will have to do is get past the Chernobyl/Fukishima mindset which is easy with modern reactor designs that can make a Power plant nearly 100% safe .