New Energy
Australia Sees Power Gaps Over Next Decade as 62% of Coal Operations Shut Down
- Grid says it is critical planned investments are delivered
- Coming summer forecast to be hotter than in recent years
Cooling towers at a power station in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia.
Photographer: Carla Gottgens/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Australia’s grid operator sees risks of energy shortfalls over the next 10 years as the nation retires 62% of the coal power fleet that still provides most of its electricity.
Reliability risks are seen in Victoria from this summer and in New South Wales from 2025-2026, the Australian Energy Market Operator said Thursday in its Electricity Statement of Opportunities report. Power demand is expected to continue growing along with the population and economy and it is critical that planned investments in transmission, generation and storage projects are “urgently delivered,” it said.