Part 7/9:
Currently, the grid depends heavily on dispatchable energy sources such as coal, gas, or stored energy to fill the gaps when wind and sun are insufficient. The assumption that renewables can provide uninterrupted supply ignores the substantial investment and operational costs associated with backup infrastructure.
Is It All Just a Costly Rhetorical Game?
Hilton labels the CSIRO’s approach as a "scam," accusing the organization of dishonest practices—similar, she argues, to past controversies over nuclear power costings. She suggests that the apparent "cheaper" future for renewables is based on overly optimistic assumptions, extensive cost-shifting, and deliberate exclusion of practical, real-world expenses.