Higher prices and a potential winter power shortage are looming:
. . . After low rainfall in January and February hydro lakes are much lower than they usually would be this time of year. While it’s not setting off alarm bells yet, it’s not ideal.
Transpower chief executive James Kilty says fortunately there’s still plenty of time for things to change.
We are overall, though, in the energy mix better off than we were this time last year due to the arrangements being made for alternative fuels, coal and some gas contracting happening at this time, so the industry is preparing,” he said.
As with previous winters there’s also the possibility of constrained supply during the coldest mornings and evenings. . .
It is only a possibility but it still begs the question: why is there so much encouragement to switch from other forms of energy to electricity, including from petrol vehicles to EVs, when there’s no guarantee the supply will meet demand?
The pressure to move away from fossil fuels is driven by concerns about climate change. But until there is are reliable alternatives it is once more putting the environmental cart in front of the practical horses.
Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
No comments:
Post a Comment