Here is a human-interest story, but one with as wider moral, regarding the so-called renewable energy mania. A homesteader wanted to live off grid on a farm on the coast in Victoria. Privatisation of the power grid led to an insecure power supply, so the family decided to go fully off grid. They detail their journey in the extract below, but the relevant point is that the family while having a top-class solar and wind system, still found that they needed backup fossil-fuelled generators for overcast days with no wind. And, as is seldom mentioned by renewable energy advocates, the components of the renewable energy systems, frequently break down and in any case have to be replaced in 10-25 years. It is concluded as a lesson for the wider society:
“Extrapolating from our renewable energy experience, anyone who thinks that a modern society can function with a power grid that runs on just solar and wind power without fossil fuel or nuclear backup that’s able to immediately provide up to 100% of power needs on cloudy, still days and dark, windless nights, is totally deluded!