Hunter, Illawarra Paddle Out Against Offshore Wind Farms
Over the weekend, dual paddle-outs in the Illawarra and Hunter attracted hundreds of surfers in a protest against proposed offshore wind zones off both regions.
The federal government has identified offshore wind as key to the nation's renewable energy future, with the Hunter zone formally declared, and others in Australia — including the Illawarra — expected to be declared soon.
The paddle-outs were held at One Mile beach near Anna Bay, and at Wollongong's City Beach.
Port Stephens tourism operator Frank Future, who runs whale watching cruises off the Hunter's coast, is concerned about possible impacts to marine life.
"It's not about NIMBYism, you know, it's not about 'put it somewhere but not here,'" he said. "It's about the marine environment. Here, we share the whale populations moving up and down the coast of Australia with lots of small coastal communities like this one."
"I think we could do much better, and if the [federal government] listens to communities like this one, we'll come up with a good plan."
Frank Future is worried about the possible impact of whales (Photo: ABC Newcastle Bridget Murphy)
Consultation calls in the Hunter
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen formally declared the Hunter coast as the country's second offshore wind zone, after Victoria's Gippsland coast, in July. The Hunter zone was refined and redesigned after community backlash, pushing it further from shore and reducing its proximity to Norah Head on the Central Coast.
The turbines will be constructed approximately 20 to 35 kilometres from the shorelines across a designated area.
The declared Hunter Coast offshore wind zone
Nelson Bay's Jared Sutter took part in the paddle out and said he felt the community consultation hadn't been good enough.
"The wind farms, where they're going, we should have a say. That's how it should work," he said. "We all want clean energy, that's the hard part…we want clean energy. But we want to talk about it. That's it. We want to discuss it."
1,000 people gather in Illawarra
About 1,000 people gathered for a rally in Wollongong opposing the proposed Illawarra offshore wind zone. The zone will cover a 1,461-square-kilometre area, stretching from the Royal National Park to Kiama.
Organisers said they had been forced into a protest because they believed the federal government had failed to provide enough information on the proposal.
Hundreds joined the protest at Flagstaff Hill in Wollongong (Photo: ABC Illawarra Kelly Fuller)
A fortnight ago the federal government extended the community consultation on the proposal until mid-November.
"We absolutely love this environment and the natural gifts around us, we love our coastline, and this is why we live here," MC Michael McDowell told the rally.
Independent MP for Kiama Gareth Ward said the current situation was not acceptable. "We deserve to have the facts on the table, we deserve to have information about whales and birds," he said. "It seems the Labor Party just want to roll this thing out without being transparent about the questions people are asking."
Gareth Ward told the rally that questions about offshore wind remained unanswered (Photo: ABC Illawarra Kelly Fuller)
Environmental, housing, fishing concerns
One Nation MP Tani Milhailik said local Labor MPs were going to allow Energy Minister Chris Bowen to "steamroll the project" in the Illawarra.
"You've got to say, 'Bugger off, Bowen' that is my suggestion," Ms Milhailik encouraged the crowd to chant.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Mark Banasiak told the crowd the claims about local jobs were "absolute bullshit" and overseas workers would come in and take "precious local housing".
He also warned the proposal put at risk local commercial and recreational fishing activities.
About 200 Wollongong surfers paddled out to protest (Photo: ABC Illawarra Kelly Fuller)
After the rally, approx. 200 surfers and board riders paddled out near the Flagstaff lighthouse and formed a circle in the water with the remaining crowd cheering from the shore.
Patricia Elkerton said she allowed her seven-year-old daughter to paddle out with her dad in support of the No campaign.
"We don't want our coast ruined, we don't want animals injured, we don't believe the information that has been provided is true, this could ruin my daughter's future," she said. "I just know there are definitely other solutions towards climate change and towards these renewable energies, why not invest in that?"
Further consultation for the Illawarra
A spokesperson for Mr Bowen said the government would be holding three further opportunities for the Illawarra community to have its say, and would consider all submissions before a final area was declared.
"The Albanese government respects the right for individuals to protest and have their say on issues that impact them," they said in a statement. "That's why we are consulting with the Illawarra community about the proposed area until November 15, to learn more about these waters, other sea users and local industries.
"We will only be licensing projects that work well with existing industry and the environment, and deliver meaningful, long-lasting community benefits.
"Before a project can commence, proponents must seek and receive approval for feasibility licences and comply with strict environmental regulations."
// KELLY FULLER and BRIDGET MURPHY
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
Green = new corporate industry for $$$$. Keep drinking the climate koolaide kids
Greenwashing is definitely damaging the efforts to actually tackle what's currently taking place across the planet right now.
Regarding your last sentence, ignorance is bliss eh.. :/
People seem to be pretty pissed off about this...Put it into somebody else's backyard I guess.
I'm of the opinion that Australia is so blessed with wealth, wind and sunshine that it's strange (sad) we're not leading the world in renewable energy. Although countering that, I'm reading Joseph Campbell and the enduring human myth is that technology won't save us.
I've just passed through that region and saw the NIMBY signs. It definately gets a ton of wind where they want to put it and I guess I'm all for it if it doesn't affect wave quality because ultimately, whales can swim and I'm sure they'll just go around them. I also love how concerned that dude is about the whales, not concerned enough to stop running tours, and I imagine noisy boats to go see them though.
I do wonder If it wouldn't be cheaper to build them on land. I'm assuming they've run the figures. I would love to hear someone opinion that has knowledge in the area.
I would like a few strategically placed big ones just off birubi to improve the beachies! Win win win.
Maybe you have seen these, if not worth a watch.
&list=PLiYnNom7SVRMjsi2WSpIGBlo1UDhlXyvzi'm disappointed by this community response, especially because it seems that no one properly understands the process in front of them (which is well documented - takes a few mins to read about what this proposal is online), and are just jumping on the panic opposition train. and, to be honest, i'm kind of disappointed that swellnet is not really offering any points from the other side of the coin. i understand this article is mostly reporting that there is public opposition to the wind turbines, but there's also great public support - where's any mention of that?
at this stage, the rational response is to be wary. in my view, the opposition we're seeing is nimbyism dressed up as environmental/other concern, though i'd argue it's a bit hard to say it's not nimbyism when the leading instagram account against the wind farms is rife with memes about the farm decimating house prices...
most of the arguments against, as far as i can see, are:
1. we need more information (which is valid);
2. the environment + fishing (which is not valid yet but may be valid in future);
3. impact on house prices (dumb, and i say this as a homeowner in the illawarra with water views); and
4. impact on air bnb demand (???)
as to points 1 and 2, it is part of the planning process that more information is coming. there has been no misinformation about this. you are currently looking at a proposal for this to be an area that will maybe contain wind turbines, supposing all of the other planning hurdles are jumped through. that planning process will involve, inter alia, environmental studies. there is no evidence (yet) that this will cause environmental harm (to, for example, migratory birds or whales), nor that it will impact fishing.
points 3 and 4 are just nimby bs.
wait for the damn environmental and other studies before being concerned. and read more about it before jumping to conclusions.
nimbyism
Without the findings from the studies, there's really not much to go on at the moment. When those findings are released then we'll have something. As it is, I wrote an article back in August that brought up some of the issues for either side.
FWIW I'm cautiously in support of wind farms, contingent on where they're placed and what benefits flow towards Australia, however I'm not going to start waving the banner on behalf of rapacious multinational companies who could care a jot about local communities.
Yes, I understand that ultimately it's about the service provided - i.e energy - but unless there's pushback of some kind, companies will consider the hosting community a pushover and take the easiest route. So while I can't stomach some of the hypocritical opposition, I also think the protest is a good thing. Put 'em on alert.
this is more or less how i feel about it as well, though you have articulated it way better than i could.
interesting point re the pushback. i agree, though i don't think i agree with the current message from the pushback, because none of the current arguments really hold water (as you've identified)
On another, more pragmatic level. The more we split into opposing camps, the less dialogue that gets exchanged.
There are definitely people who don't want wind farms irrespective of the distance offshore or community benefit, however there are many who are willing to listen and compromise but they'll only engage where good faith is shown (i.e not painted as climate denying loonies).
Every politician knows it's swing voters who turn an election, same goes with issues like this.
Isn’t that the Gareth Ward that is currently defending allegations of very disgusting behaviour.
Yep, same guy. Got voted back in with the charges pending, presumption of innocence and all that.
One thing he is definitely guilty of is making cynical mileage out of this. "It seems the Labor Party just want to roll this thing out without being transparent about the questions people are asking."
Liberals wrote the legislation in question - the Offshore Wind Act 2021 - while the new Labor government voluntarily introduced a more transparent process than the bill required.
politics is such a dumpster fire it's hard to take any opposition seriously, I would rather hear the whales perspective
Myrnnnnh! Ryhnnnnryuuu! Rooooornhhnh!
I forgot to mention I'll need a whale translator
classic!
"Frank Future is worried about the possible impact of whales" Maybe *on whales?
And yeah, nimby.
Having cognitive dissonance moment with this one - we've had Antarctic sea ice collapse this winter, do we want clean energy? Yes listen to the locals too, give them the info, address their concerns.
Is Woolongong slated to be a hydrogen energy centre and these wind farms important in generation of the green hydrogen?
First point of order: It's Wollongong.
Second point: Yep, slated as an REZ - Renewable Energy Zone - largely on the back of hydrogen from wind power, and to a lesser extent pumped hydro. If it's executed as planned it would be a boon for the Illawarra, however people are very distrustful of govt and companies now, and in a way, is that any surprise? People feel stooged by forty years of neolib carry on. All trust is gone. Next stop, outright climate denial.
Within the opposition are a large array of voices, some with legitimate concerns, others preposterously stupid, but to the credit of organisers they're moving as one unit.
I'm not exactly sure what might happen once the studies come back though I imagine many opposing it might relent. Cohesion might present a problem then.
Second point:
I mean, that's a big cock up. One mate from high school pranged a mine truck into a conveyor of some sort and that was 5 mil, but this is on another scale.
And first point, I will banish myself into calling it 'the Gong' forever after as I can't spell it.
Yeah, what a huge and very costly mess that has turned out to be. And they've hardly got started!
I wonder how the gong constituents will feel with wind farms and a nuclear sub base at port kembla?
It's one or the other.
Ridding the Illawarra of wind farms could be a Pyrrhic victory. Defence ain't gonna give a toss about a protest on a hill.
NIMBYs
Same thing proposed off the Limestone coast S.A/ thru to Portland Victoria.
All the energy would be fed into Portland. South Australia to get none. Local town meetings so big, people couldn't get seats into halls/clubs. It was 8 deep outside the front door, windows of the clubs opened , with hundreds at each window listening. Never seen anything like it.
The community anger is white hot.
Its Not about the windmills. There's a massive wind farm at Millicent. People like it. Complete transparency. Its the being taken for granted, and that something fishy smells.
We all know there are big recources of LNG around here, called the Otway basin. Low and behold, the Gippsland has a gas basin too. It wouldn't surpise me if gas has been found off the NSW coast as well.
So, the feeling is, that both Morrison, and Now Albanese are playing funny buggers, using "offshore wind farms" as a means to drill into the ocean floor and tap into gas. It'd be very easy once drilling the anchor holes for the wind mill pontoons to say "hey we just found 1 trillion in LNG- your power bills will go down". And because they are already drilling, it'd be near impossible for any form of protest to work. In fact, new draconian laws could be used to jail anyone even near the site, and sky news would paint local fisherman as ratbag economic terrorists.
"So, the feeling is, that both Morrison, and Now Albanese are playing funny buggers, using "offshore wind farms" as a means to drill into the ocean floor and tap into gas. It'd be very easy once drilling the anchor holes for the wind mill pontoons to say "hey we just found 1 trillion in LNG- your power bills will go down". And because they are already drilling, it'd be near impossible for any form of protest to work. In fact, new draconian laws could be used to jail anyone even near the site, and sky news would paint local fisherman as ratbag economic terrorists."
And herein lies the problem. There are genuine concerns with some of aspects of these proposals. Once the conspiracy theories start to get blended in, the genuine concerns get tainted with the same brush, and those voices are no longer given the same credibility. People need to stop injecting FUD (srsly - secret LNG drilling on wind farm sites....sigh) into the discourse if they really want to be heard.
Covert drilling of LNG via floating turbines?
Possibly the stupidest theory I've yet heard, and I've heard some doozies.
Overseas studies and research on established offshore wind farms so far are inconclusive. Positives and negatives have been identified but need further data to support any of it.
Australian studies are even further behind. Not sure how anyone can come to any absolute conclusion yet.
Or maybe I've missed something, and someone can point me in the direction of any research that will definitively prove the case for or against OWFs.
I don't think it's unreasonable to be concerned about the possible impacts of these large-scale projects.
But yeah Nimby, Climate deniers, greedy fishermen etc. Whatever...
Well at least we have snowy hydro 2.
"I just know there are definitely other solutions towards climate change and towards these renewable energies, why not invest in that?"
https://amp.abc.net.au/article/102689392
If the protesters went to some of the towns in the upper Hunter near the coal mines they would probably realise that having a distant wind turbine in the ocean is the lesser of 2 evils. If you compare what people on the coast face sacrificing vs how badly the countryside in those towns have has been trashed by the mines with the air pollution and so on, it’s actually pretty selfish to protest this.
Mining in one form or another will still go on to supply the turbines and other infrastructure with the materials and elements needed to build and operate OWFs and a renewable energy grid.
Indeed, there will need to be more of it:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-09/digging-in:-why-powering-a-green-...
Exactly…….. until we have exhausted those metals that are in short supply ( rare earths, critical metals) they’re not infinite, then where do we turn ? These wind turbines, solar panels, batteries only have a life of approximately 20 years, someone making plenty of money at our expense.
If it were me, I'd be looking into geothermal and maybe giant stirling engines - but I'd be coupling the source to giant, industrial revolution-style steam engines. Why? Machines built during the industrial revolution were so solidly constructed they can last for 200 years+ and are built with simple metals that we have in greater supply, such as iron ore. They are mechanically simple to maintain and would not need complete replacement including energy intensive materials processing, after 20-30 years. To clarify, the machines would not run on coal - the heat generated from the geothermal or air heating in the stirling engine would drive them. For example look at this one, it would last forever:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stationary_steam_engine
Plus, we could all live in the steampunk future that anime says is coming.
Now we just need the big drill machine to dig down to the molten core and all of our energy worries will be over! To my knowledge Australia isn't brimming over with hot springs.
But do we really need to wear the stupid streampunk outfits?....
I mean lots of people rock around in puffer jackets already...
Iceland & other countries on fault lines have been doing geothermal for years... NewZ, Indo, etc
however some areas may experience an increase in earthquakes with the frackin method of generating steam.... (or long wall mining)
There are many good ideas being explored ATM
or try pissing downwind....
Yeah, I have been lucky enough to have a walk around in the Wairakei and Ohaaki geothermal plants in NZ, interesting stuff.
https://www.surflakes.com/
This is the cold hard reality that the Patagucci crowd are starting to realise…somewhat. Lift the nuclear ban and just fkn get on with it.
In short,
"Baseline surveys must run for long enough to capture and describe seasonal variability and the complex migratory patterns of marine species in relation to license areas. These patterns may change from year to year so multi-year surveys are generally required
Collecting good data over multiple years adds confidence to the patterns we detail, and to the assessment of impacts on the environment. This is particularly the case in areas where no consistent research has been done and we are establishing baseline information for the very first time.
The spectres of climate change and global energy instability are hanging over our heads. Baseline environmental studies for offshore wind will be vital for solving these challenges as they will enable an offshore clean energy industry to flourish. But with the way we are currently going about them as an industry may be holding us back…
It’s a problem of time and resources. It’s a question of efficiency. It requires collaboration!"
https://www.rpsgroup.com/insights/aap/the-need-for-industry-collaboratio...
"The spectres of climate change and global energy instability are hanging over our heads. Baseline environmental studies for offshore wind will be vital for solving these challenges as they will enable an offshore clean energy industry to flourish."
Here's a fairly recent one - https://reneweconomy.com.au/climate-change-a-much-greater-threat-to-whal...
To clarify my nimby remark, I was just having a cynical laugh at Greenie types that are dead keen on renewable energy, except...
Its just climate change denial in sheeps clothing. Grow up, the Coalition sold you a dummy. Its time to sit at the smart peoples table and leave steam power behind.
csiro solar steam
https://www.csiro.au/en/research/technology-space/energy/Solar-thermal
They use a turbine rather than external combustion mechanicals, efficiency vs long term maintenance would be interesting, but neither would need complete replacement within 20-30 years, maybe reblading the turbine at some stage... This is a pretty smart idea and allows generation after dark too.
Nuclear is the answer.
Safest, cleanest, cheapest, most efficient.
If the threat of climate change was as catastrophic as the “experts” keep telling us it would at least be part of the discussion.
CC is just another over hyped threat used to generate fear, increase govt control and funnel dollars into the usual suspects bank accounts.
Not saying the climate ain’t changing it’s just waaaaaaay down the list of problems we should be focussing on.
if only the science "experts" were as self assured and knowledgable as internet "experts", we could fix every problem on the planet today, who's got time for nuance when the answers are right here ;)
1600 scientists & professionals , including 2 Nobel Laureates ( maybe they’re your science “experts “) have signed a declaration- saying there is no climate emergency. “Gatestone Institute - climate emergency is a hoax”google if you want, sorry can’t upload it. Always two sides to a story., Problem with climate emergency is business, big money business.
doesnt take a lot of googling to discover that most the signatures on this document were in fact not climatologists, rather engineers and geologists, wonder what motivation they had to come up with this conclusion, which industry employs a lot of engineers and geologists? very interesting
What's funny to me though is the determination of certain types of folk that will accept these documents as the truth, then reject the overwhelming majority of evidence, what's the motvation there? Are we just trying to be edgy or what?
"Climate science should be less political, while climate policies should be more scientific," states the declaration signed by the 1,609 scientists and professionals, including Nobel laureates John F. Clauser from the US and Ivar Giaever from Norway/US.
Quote is from "Gatestone Institute,.... funded by private donors and foundations. We are grateful for your support. Gatestone Institute is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, Federal Tax ID..."
Hope your right cause if your not and we sit on our hands, shit will happen.
All good “Mike”, keep on listening to them, ignore their track record and see how things go for you…Are you due for a covid injection?
no worries michael, keep denying them, hope you live a healthy life if you're determined to not accept medical treatment
You believe the Covid injection is a medical treatment? What does it treat?
of course, it's preventative treatment, builds antibodies, helps you immune system deal with infection, without treatments like this humans would be dealing with a lot of suffering
Got my ears chiselled, broken bones mended, sure…
Suffering? Suffering as bad as metabolic syndrome?
What sort of suffering does the injection prevent?
Do you know what is does to the gut and the heart?
metabolic syndrome? bit ironic to come at me with scientific jargon isn't it?
anyway you can see for yourself by visiting less developed parts of the world, plenty of people suffering from preventable but untreatable diseases
Metabolic syndrome is very common, you probably have it like 80% of people in western countries who follow the “experts”advice and the food pyramid. It’s preventable and treatable. Ask your GP and you’ll get a blank stare and a script for more pills in return.
Just remember:
Red meat bad
Eggs bad
Butter bad
Vegetable oil good
Fat bad
Low fat good
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
Fruit juice good
Carbs good
Vegan good
Orange man bad
Australians are racist
Nuclear bad
Gender is a social construct
We’re all gonna die from climate unless we pay more on bills and taxes…
Good boy!
Ah! I forgot my favourite lie…
There is too many humans on the planet.
Read any good memes today?
You're very close to the perfect social media puppet, mate. A dot point list of every culture warrior fuckwit.
Fuck off and go polish a surf cam.
I don’t do any social media.
Not since 2015.
Love a good meme though.
Really? Should try it. For a free-thinking individual such as yourself it'd be like walking in a hall of mirrors.
Nah I’m good…..Stay safe Stu.
You too.
you're displaying all the symptoms of too much internet mate, luckily it's easily fixed and you don't need a doctor, cheers for the laugh
It comes down to $ At the moment. All the big companies are working in the USA & China becoming more sustainable (or less fossil dependant)
in bank finance terms;
the Govt subsidy - costs = value of an energy project per kilowatt of power generated (profit return on investment ).
The insurance companies have to consider all factors for global investment projects, looking at all the data & estimating worst case scenario for a project's success =profit.... detail below
Warning!; Adults only content on this video ( planetary peril, graphs to convey information; some cartoons & clear logic)
Summary Oct 30, 2023
"Scientists have identified nine so-called 'Earth System boundaries' beyond which life on our planet will become extremely difficult for many species, not least us humans. That analysis has often been met with scepticism, but risk managers at the world's largest financial institutions have been watching the rapid 'real-world' changes in earth's atmosphere and the catastrophic impacts on their asset portfolios, and they're beginning to factor 'Planetary Boundary' science into their spreadsheets. And when the 'money-men' change, the whole world changes!! "
25 year lead time for a nuc reactor. Do we have 25 years just for one.
25 years? where did you read that?
Great insight into global energy projects and independent review of these issues in laymen's language & diagrams
https://www.youtube.com/@JustHaveaThink
Yep. good vid. just fkn get on with it.
The reason nuclear energy is not used is because it threatens the existing petrochemical company's profits and associated governments of the days share-SIMPLE, Sure there are significant critical impacts when things go wrong-maybe don't place nuclear power plants close to oceans or land susceptible to earthquakes/tsunamis. When you consider the chronic environmental impacts of sourcing petroleum hydrocarbons- or lithium for stored battery power- which both involve mining-for multiple past and ongoing decades then maybe it's to be considered. Renewable energy will be the future but for now it only seems to work on a small scale as it can't provide reliable base load for the existing energy grids. My thoughts.
Its a bit ironic that the protesters are shown in front of coal ships dotting the horizon. How many whales are killed by global coal shipping? Add to that the massive number of tonnes of carbon each shipload of coal will unload into the atmosphere, raising temperatures, melting ice shelves, displacing millions of people living in low-lying areas, and, destroying our beaches. It has recently been reported that many of the anti-offshore wind (OSW) protesters reference reports about the dangers of OSW to whales in the journal Marine Policy - the Australian editor of this journal has recently stated that their journal has NEVER published any research on the effects of OSW turbines on whales. Yes there may be effects of OSW on the environment, but they must be treated with balance in compared to the looming disaster of fossil fuels raising our global temperatures at a crazy rate - as evidenced by wildfires across the globe.
True, Jline. Having coal ships directly parked off the coast for the last 150 years is fine, but having wind turbines 10kms offshore is going to make your house prices plummet.
It’s hard to say which of their arguments are least convincing. Was going to attend one up the coast but thought better of it. The argument that it will mess up the whales is clutching at straws rubbish, the sea birds will be killed argument has a small bit of truth in it, but doesn’t compare slightly to all the other million things we are doing that kill sea birds (plastics, oil spills, air pollution, having cats for pets, actual climate change which will kill nearly all of them off) the real estate prices argument is just stupid, and the argument that surfers may have to catch waves that are 5% smaller than they may have been, in some circumstances, depending on the angle, in maybe a very small number of cases, is just grotesquely selfish and small minded.
The anti wind farm arguments are thinner than the scum on a pond. And much of the opposition to them is funded by dark money from fossil fuel related companies. That is documented.
There is the plan and the heroic targets. Then there is the real world which can be very cruel to finely balanced economics and margins.
"Meanwhile, a financial crisis continues to accelerate across the wind industry, with the world's largest offshore wind farm developer, Ørsted, pulling out of major US projects due to soaring inflation costs and a high-rate environment. And the renewable energy meltdown in wind has spread to solar as several solar power company stocks crashed on sliding demand. "
https://www.zerohedge.com/commodities/german-govt-agrees-provisional-sie...
Government forcing the pace of change well beyond what normal market forces would generate magnifies risks to viability as supply cost go up as projects compete for scarce resources and expertise and projects proceed that might not really stack up, projects launch at just the wrong time, corners are cut etc.
Who pays? Taxpayers and electricity users through bailouts and high cost supply.
Should see how the economics of small modular reactors are going. 2 out of the only 4 being attempted have sent their companies broke, literally.
SMR’s are a pipe dream. Like fusion reactors, great in theory but always 10 to 15 years away.
Renewables are established technology, and getting better and cheaper. Nuclear doesn’t mix with intermittent renewables, it has to keep going and is slow to be modulated, similar to coal. They aren’t turn on/turn off arrangements. Hydro and gas peaking plants are, and it’s an unfortunate reality that gas peaking plants are likely to be needed for some time, but they do the job. Pumped hydro is the best backup in environmental terms but that will have its own problems getting regulatory approval.
Any big leap in batteries will leave much of that redundant however. Current work on silicon-based batteries is promising for the grid but the real killer will be if they can make serious inroads in energy storage.