Is a 'fantasy' now driving Australia's power reliability outlook?
Historically, forecasting power reliability was a sober task. Experts say Australia is now counting on projects that will never be built.
In Australia, ensuring power reliability is paramount, with the country striving to avoid blackouts at any cost. The electricity statement of opportunities, maintained by the Australian Energy Market Operator, serves as a critical tool in maintaining this reliability standard. This document aims to show potential supply gaps in the coming decade, highlighting where new energy projects are required.
However, the reliability outlook increasingly relies on anticipated projects, which may not be built on time. Energy experts argue that this reliance on unproven projects may downplay significant risks and challenges associated with Australia's energy transition. This could lead to higher energy costs if forecast generation and storage fail to materialize.
In the worst-case scenario, governments may be forced to intervene by extending aging coal-fired power plants to prevent any shortfalls in supply.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
