Last night I went to the presentation by the Melbourne based Alternative Technology Association.
They did a report last year comparing domestic gas for heating, hot
water and cooking with efficient electric. It is a fairly complex report,
and considers many variables, including type of housing, location in
Australia, local gas prices and local climate, age of appliances, etc.
Summary and links to full report:
http://www.ata.org.au/ata-research/emissions-down-in-switch-from-gas-to-electric-report
Gas prices have risen more than electricity prices in recent years, and
now Australia will be selling gas overseas, putting our consumers in
competition.
The modelling for the report took a mid-level estimate of expected gas
price increases, and the presenter said the levels didn’t affect the outcomes much,
as most of the gas price is in network costs (70%) rather than retail and
wholesale costs.
Biggest finding was that it is always more cost effective (over a 10 year
net present worth), to install reverse cycle electric heating and cooling
rather than ducted gas in a new home, and generally also for an existing
home.
For hot water and cooking it varied, but generally the greatest benefits
come when you switch the last gas service off, and eliminate service
charges. Induction cook tops are apparently very good, and have become
less expensive.
The report doesn’t predict that the gas industry will go into a ‘death spiral’ any time
soon, but there are risks to the existing business model, particularly if
some of the reports recommendations are taken seriously.
Recommendations include:
reviewing the gas industry’s right to spruik itself as clean and cheap
eliminating any subsidies in new housing developments for installation of
gas infrastructure
requiring gas network businesses to forecast and analyse disconnection rates
helping low income people or poorer landlords to do conversions to electric
and
moving public housing services away from an ‘all gas, automatically’
assumption in their developments and renovations.
Surely it is wise now to halt any subsidies for domestic gas infrastructure, yet another fossil fuel subsidy that will keep Australia from meeting the future head on.
This report comes as I am looking into heat pumps for our own domestic heating and cooling, as I see the advantages of ditching our ducted gas heating.
Interesting times we live in, and with the ACT set to go 90% renewable, the days of gas, like coal and oil, may be numbered.
Heat sinks that store lower or higher temperatures, are probably a better low cost option in many cases, than electrically operated reverse cycle air conditioners that keep the house warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Reticulated gas is like electricity, and subject to infinite variables that can change with the wind/international markets etc.
However, cheaper than coal thorium would enable power prices to be reduced by around 50%; given a connection to a very local micro grid; and in complete public ownership and operation; finally allowed, nay compelled to compete for patronage.
And we’re told we have enough thorium to power the world for around 700 years, or thousands if keep exclusively here at home, for the huge economic advantages that would confer on us and any high tech manufacture we could encourage to stay or relocate here!
In fact, most of our industries could be saved or completely resuscitated, if we but introduced this form of very localized power!
Given it and the tax bill weighs most heavily on most industry, and the easiest to change given decent intelligent reform.
Then there is biogas, which scrubbed and feed into (a) solid state ceramic fuel cell(s), will provide the world’s cheapest electricity and endless free hot water.
And as this particular whisper quiet combination allows most families to produce a sizable salable energy surplus; or alternatively, keep the family electric car topped up!
GM is trialing a battery with twice the range of the lithium ion variant; and like travelers sharing houses, there’s no good reason why those with a surplus of power beyond their needs, couldn’t arrive at some “private” swap deals with other travelers/power producers.
I’m reliably informed that these new batteries can be charged up to 80% of capacity in around an hour; which would put you perhaps, 500 clicks up the road before needing another recharge?
More if the paint job were in fact one car covering solar panel! Yes folks, spray on solar panels are now reality!
Currently we import around 91% of our oil requirements; and pay through the proverbial at the ubiquitous bowser!
And to be sure, the savings in possible billions, if the above were commonplace, would find their way back into savings or increased discretionary spending/economic growth.
And if we weren’t importing so much stuff, we could finally end our permanent reliance on imported foreign capital!
Finally, hydrogen must get a mention, given it could power our nation for all time, and for just a few cents a cubic metre, if we relied on endlessly available sea water, the older water molecule catalytic cracking method, solar thermal heat and a national pipeline to carry it to where it would be used; if only to seriously limit/exclude transmission line losses.
Hydrogen is a reductant, so there’d likely be no rust to worry about ever, particularly if the exterior had a good protective coating applied regularly.
And almost any reusable water would suffice, if well inland?
Moreover, lighter than air hydrogen will rise to great heights if desirable, turning a low pressure turbine or to on the way up and others when returned down, as pristine water, after the electricity has been extracted through (a) fuel cell(s).
And here I think, it might be more cost effective in electric trains, trams and buses, to carry the hydrogen inboard; and pipe it through fuel cells, as opposed to much more expensive overhead wires?
And gain twice the motive power and or range of gas/conventional engine combinations/eliminate expensive transmission line losses, which can and frequently does, double the cost of supplying the service; and possibly the difference between operating at a healthy profit or endless marginal losses?
Alan B. Goulding.
Comment by Alan B. Goulding — March 18, 2015 @ 6:44 pm