Part 6/9:
- Unrealistic plant designs: The report assumes that Australia would need to build advanced ultra-supercritical coal plants with unprecedented high-temperature steam capabilities—plants not yet built or tested anywhere in the world.
Furthermore, fuel costs are cherry-picked, taking maximum values and averages in a way that inflates estimated coal costs, thereby skewing the overall comparison in favor of renewables.
Who Pays the Price? The Role of System Back-Up
One of the most striking points Hilton emphasizes is wind and solar’s intermittency. On a typical morning, she notes, these sources contribute just 5% of the nation's power—highlighting the necessity for reliable backup systems.