AEMO: replacing aging coal has never been more urgent

The 2019 AEMO Electricity Statement of Opportunities, released today, confirms that aging coal-burning power stations pose an increasing threat to the reliability of Australia’s electricity supply.

The problem is particularly acute in Victoria, which relies on the oldest and dirtiest coal burning power stations in the country.

Environment Victoria CEO Jono La Nauze said today:

“Building more renewables and storage is the fastest and most affordable way to meet our energy needs and have a resilient grid.

“This is particularly important as aging and polluting coal power stations continue to conk out in the heat.

“Victoria is legislating a 50 percent renewable energy target by 2030. Our state is installing clean energy, cutting pollution, upgrading the grid, lowering prices and creating jobs.

“Unfortunately this is against the headwinds blown by a federal government that has overseen 6 years of uncertainty and dysfunction in our energy system.

“If Angus Taylor actually wanted to fix the NEM he would invest in renewables, storage and modernising the grid.

“Instead, this turkey in Canberra runs around squawking about yesterday’s technology – nuclear and coal – that no investor wants to go near.

“Angus Taylor doesn’t want people to notice that his government are wilfully ignoring the climate crisis and delaying the energy transition.

Victoria’s coal-burning power stations are the most unreliable and polluting in the country.

Last summer, Victoria’s only outages were caused by unreliable coal power stations conking out in the heat or being switched off for maintenance during a heatwave.

Australia’s dirtiest power station, Yallourn, is also Australia’s least reliable and has had 33 outages in the last 18 months. Loy Yang A is the second most unreliable power station with 30 outages.

Mr La Nauze noted that:

“The biggest threat to energy security is climate change. Our aging coal and gas powered energy infrastructure keeps failing and breaking down in the heat.

“As global temperatures increase, extreme weather events and heatwaves will occur more frequently putting our energy and other critical systems at risk. We must act decisively to cut climate pollution and prevent the worst impacts of global warming.