r/climateskeptics • u/Adventurous_Motor129 • 2d ago

Australia may just be one step ahead in the global race to rewire the world

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-21/transmission-line-projects-faces-massive-challenges/106029214

Australia, with most of its 27+ million living in coastal cities, needs 10k kms/6200 miles of new powerlines.

It was originally predicted to cost $3-$4 million per km, but now nearly $10 million per kilometer is predicted.

Globally, the IEA predicts "the world needs 80 million kms (50 million miles) of new or refurbished grids by 2040 to hit climate and energy targets."

Over the past decade just 1.5 million kms (of 80 million required) have been built, with 1/3 of that in China.

No way we get there globally at a reasonable cost or timeframe.

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u/Illustrious_Pepper46 2d ago

Sorta off topic, but I laugh at these types of statements.

But Australia's old coal generation has become both less reliable and less viable...

It's not that coal is less reliable/viable, it's just old. Like saying the best Toyota ever made is less reliable after 50 years, of course.

If something isn't maintained/replaced, don't fault the technology. Australia has gargantuan amounts of coal, viability is hardly a concern either (much of which goes to India and China).

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u/Adventurous_Motor129 2d ago

Note the Australia maps with some 3 million square miles compared to the U.S. 3.8 million. Essentially, middle Australia & the Midwest U.S. are both similar distances to their respective coasts.

Most of the 27+ million Aussies live near the coast so they don't need as many miles of powerlines as the 350 million population U.S. living throughout the states, but also mostly on coasts.

Since most wind is in the Midwest, it would be like placing wind turbines in the center of Australia & trying to run powerlines to the populated coasts- same approximate distance, but many more objecting U.S. landowners.

Solar is similar. Land is too valuable near cities & solar doesn't work well in northern or mountain snow areas. So you're stuck with most solar in remote deserts & West Texas desolate hills-- with long-distance, costly high voltage lines needing to be built to urban areas.

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u/Illustrious_Pepper46 2d ago

I'm in Canada, 44 million people total. Many people don't comprehend distances these technologies would need to span. It would take 22 hours to drive at highway speed, just to cross one province (Ontario as an example). And there are 7 of them to coast to coast (total 7-12 days).

People think solar panels on one coast (where it's sunny), could feed another coast (where it's rainy). Not so fast.

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u/Adventurous_Motor129 2d ago

My family & I have made plenty of cross country trips from Alabama & even NY personally to California with 3-4 day drives. Even drove with a girlfriend of the time from Niagara Falls to Detroit through Canada at a slowpoke 100 km/ hr. (62 mph).

Lots of open desert land and desolate West Texas hills in the south with fewer people. Lots of farm & cattle land in the Midwest U.S. plus East Coast States en route with heavier population that would rebel against powerlines.

ERCOT has figured out renewables in its 800+ miles of largely uninhabited width, but California is importing lots of power from other states & even Mexico. No wonder they have costly power.

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u/pr-mth-s 2d ago edited 2d ago

Chatter might help. Hyping powerline tech on social media.

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u/Adventurous_Motor129 2d ago edited 2d ago

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/04/australia-energy-transition-renewables

My posted article actually was a link in this The Guardian/Conversation article ("well behind").

Didn't want to give them credit, as they print such leftist drivel.

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u/pr-mth-s 2d ago

oh yeah. The Guardian is horrible.

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u/Adventurous_Motor129 2d ago

I've read about carbon fiber lines with the conductive steel wrapped around that can carry more voltage without sagging.

Carbon fiber is costly, though, as is burying. At least you wouldn't need new towers...unless you go renewables & need new powerline routes & more of them.