This story is so incredible that you have to wonder how these people cannot see the irony of their idiotic situation. As I read it, they are having trouble building metallic inputs for solar panels because their wind-powered electricity grid is not generating enough power and the intermittent supply is raising electricity costs. Read it yourself.

South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis called a crisis meeting of energy users and suppliers today to deal with sharp rises and falls in wholesale electricity prices that threaten the redevelopment of a Port Pirie lead and zinc smelter to make metals for solar panels and mobile phones, even with a $291 million government subsidy.

The volatility in wholesale prices – caused mostly by the state’s reliance on wind power and the ability of coal and gas power stations to charge high prices when the wind drops – is creating havoc for industry in the state, which is one of the country’s most economically depressed.

“The state government recognises we must do more to address issues in the market as we transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Mr Koutsantonis, who also serves as Energy Minister.

Is there really no mechanism for these people to learn anything?