The Coalition's latest energy proposal, coal to liquids, is a costly, emissions-intensive, and impractical solution that would take years to implement. It's a distraction from the real issues of climate change and the need for a clean energy future. The technology has a poor track record, with South Africa's apartheid government and Hitler's Nazi regime using it during times of crisis, but it has proven to be an economic and environmental nightmare. The US and China have also explored the technology, but found it too expensive and dirty to deploy at scale. Australia has tried similar projects, such as turning brown coal into hydrogen, but these have been abandoned due to high costs and environmental concerns. The coal-to-liquids process is one of the most carbon-intensive fuel production methods on earth and would require significant amounts of water and energy. It's a costly and high-emitting process, with an average of 221 grams of CO2 for every metajoule of liquids, nearly three times more than conventional fossil fuels. The technology is not only emissions-intensive but also requires significant amounts of water and is costly. The Coalition's focus on coal-to-liquids is a distraction from the real solutions, such as electrifying everything and investing in renewable energy. The federal government is paying a $4 billion annual subsidy to support the mining industry's diesel use, and the Coalition wants to scrap all EV support mechanisms and the home battery rebate. This is a new level of crazy, and it's time for the Coalition to wake up and smell the coffee. The real solution is to invest in clean energy and electrify everything, not to waste money on outdated and impractical technologies.
