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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Editor Emeritus Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc Bao Smith, B.Sc Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Art Director & Production Manager Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates: $105.00 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended & maximum price only. Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint New base-load power stations are crucial Despite the fact that many people have this romantic view that Australia can continue to invest heavily in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, we desperately need new base load power stations. Without a reasonable number of base load power stations, we will inevitably be subject to serious blackouts. Not only is this irritating for domestic consumers, it ultimately makes much of our heavy industry unviable. As existing coal-fired power stations are decommissioned, they must be replaced with new ones. So what are the options being discussed? With nuclear stations off the agenda, only two appear to be on the list; so-called HELE (High Efficiency Low Emissions) coal-fired and the much criticised Snowy Hydro2.0 hydroelectric option which is not base load but a peak load proposal. Taking the latter option first, most of the criticism of this proposal is just bog ignorance, with people scorning it because it delivers less electricity than is used to pump up the dams. Well in the real world, this is the case with all rechargeable batteries whether they run your smart phone, your car battery or whatever. But Snowy Hydro2.0 is a very good (rechargeable battery) proposal which will store and use excess renewable energy, then release it at peak loading times. You can read more about pumped hydroelectricity schemes in the January 2017 article at siliconchip.com.au/Article/10497 HELE coal fired power stations should definitely be built in Australia and construction needs to start as soon as possible. We have heaps of coal and it makes no sense at all that we are one of the world’s biggest exporters of steaming coal but we are shutting down our cheapest power stations while China and other countries are building new HELE stations as fast as possible – to use that very same coal! However, coal mining does have serious environmental consequences whether it is open-cut or underground, and open-cut mines need huge areas to be remediated at vast expense when the mines reach the end of their life. But there is another fossil fuel option that does not even seem to be on the table: combined-cycle gas-fired power stations. Australia has a few, such as Darling Downs in Queensland, the Ichthys LNG project in Perth (not used for base-load to consumers), Tallawarra in NSW and Pelican Point in Adelaide, South Australia. Combined-cycle gas-fired power stations are even more efficient than HELE coal-fired stations, mainly because they operate at higher temperatures and use waste-heat from the gas turbines to generate steam for a turbo-alternator. And they have a major advantage in that they cause very little environmental damage and there is far less need for remediation at the end point for a gas field. Mind you, they do have drawbacks and the main one is that due to the very high operating temperatures in the main turbines of a combined-cycle plant, the plant typically has an operating life of no more than 30 years. (See: siliconchip.com.au/link/aaki). Coal plants last much longer than that; 50 years is not unheard of. Regardless of that, all three options should be proceeded with. Otherwise, Australia’s economy will be in dire straits. This will be my last editorial for SILICON CHIP. After 31 years, I am handing the magazine over to Nicholas Vinen. I can assure you that the magazine format will stay much the same and there will be no “dumbing down” of the editorial content. On the other hand, perhaps some readers will be happy to see me finally put out to pasture and no longer able to write those inflammatory anti-global warming Publisher’s Letters, when I should have been concentrating on more prosaic topics more closely related to electronics. Leo Simpson Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2148. 2 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au