Gas is the way forward, says Labor advisor Hawker Britton

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Posted on 30 Mar 2010

Gas is the way forward, says Labor advisor Hawker Britton
30 March 2010 2:30pm

Key advisor to state and federal Labor governments, Hawker Britton, has thrown its weight behind gas as a transitional fuel, but renewables advocates say it's 'a diversion rather than a shortcut'.

The two new baseload power stations approved for Bayswater and Mount Piper in NSW are "ideal to be built as gas", Hawker Britton NSW director Sean Macken told a Green Capital breakfast in Sydney this morning.

"I know there's people that think it's too late for gas," he said.

"I think gas is the easiest way for us to take out coal, and in Australia's energy profile, coal is the killer," said Macken.

His comments follow a call last week from NSW Energy Minister John Robertson for increased private investment in gas projects and exploration.

Renewable energy 'can do baseload' But Beyond Zero Emissions campaigner Matthew Wright said gas "could be a diversion rather than a shortcut".

"If we go ahead and build combined cycle gas power plants to replace our coal fleet, and we already have too much carbon in the atmosphere today, then in 10 years are we all going to be running a campaign to
close down the stranded asset gas plants that we just campaigned to get installed?" he asked.

Wright said that with the installation globally of solar thermal energy with output equivalent to four and a half Bayswater Power Stations - the price of solar thermal would fall in line with coal.

"So we just need some subsidies or support to get those first solar thermal plants out, to get the factories making mirrors 24/7, then we'll actually have that power at comparable prices," he said.

Wright said the success of the Andasol Solar Power Station in Spain proves solar thermal is a viable alternative for baseload power.

"These plants run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they're parabolic trough plants," he said.

"Never again believe anyone that tells you that renewable energy can't do baseload, that the lights will go out."

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