[Greens-Media] Washing away the base load myth with solar hot water

[John Kaye]

Washing away the base load myth with solar hot water
 
Media release: 10 September 2007
 
The Greens released their analysis that shows that NSW can avoid the
massive cost and greenhouse gas emissions from a new base load power
station if electric off-peak water heating is phased out.
 
Greens NSW MP John Kaye said: “The Iemma government is being panicked
into electricity industry privatisation and a new, expensive and
polluting base load power station by the supposed threat of blackouts.
 
“There is no capacity gap that cannot be met by increasing energy
efficiency. 
 
“Using highly conservative assumptions we found that replacing
inefficient off-peak electric water heaters with solar, heat pumps or
gas would reduce base load demand to a level where no new plant would be
needed for many years to come.
 
“A ban on the sale of off-peak units and providing interest free loans
to cover the increased cost to the consumer of high efficiency units
would be a cost-effective and low emissions way of meeting future
demand.
 
“More than 70 thousand electric off-peak units fail each year and need
replacing.
 
“Ensuring that the new water heaters are high efficiency units
including gas, solar and heat pumps would cut base load by more than 109
MW each year.
 
“After three years of replacing worn out off-peak units with new high
efficiency water heaters, overnight load would be reduced by more than
327 MW which is the 2011 supply gap that the Iemma government used to
justify the Owen Inquiry.
 
“The total cost to government would be less than $5 million a year.
 
“Apart from avoiding billions of dollars tied up in an expensive base
load plant, our analysis showed that phasing out off peak hot water
would save  at least 537 thousand tonnes of CO2 each year. 
 
“The Iemma government put the wrong questions to the Owen Inquiry and
will get back answers that drive the state to new base load plants and
privatisation. 
 
“The Greens urge the Iemma government to abandon ship on the Owen
Inquiry and work with households to reduce demand and emissions,” Dr
Kaye said. 
 
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: john.kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
web: www.johnkaye.org.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000