Industry fearful on dialled-up grid warnings
Manufacturers unnerved by warnings of potential blackouts as early as this summer have called for urgent intervention to remove roadblocks to new renewable energy projects and slow the retirement of coal-fired power stations.
New transmission, generation and storage is critical to break out of the “downward spiral” towards unreliable power supply, while household rooftop solar and batteries need used more to help the electricity grid, Australian Industry Group boss Innes Willox said in response to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s latest grim assessment.
Leaving part of the Eraring power station open for two years longer could help relieve pressure on the energy grid. Bloomberg
Large energy users said supply chain bottlenecks, community opposition and slow approvals for projects were other issues that need to be address quickly.
“AEMO has finally said what many have been talking about for some time,” said Andrew Richards, who heads the Energy Users Association of Australia, which includes BlueScope Steel and Brickworks.
“The language to me is more urgent. There is a more honest conversation about what the immediate future holds,” he said, adding that industry needs affordable, round-the-clock power through the transition.
“It is very clear that every infrastructure project – energy or otherwise – is struggling on budget, timing and with workforce. That’s the reality we face for the foreseeable future. Things are incredibly tight.”
Still, Markus Brokhof, chief operating officer of the country’s biggest power generator, AGL Energy, said AEMO’s findings were “not a surprise” and put the increased likelihood of rolling blackouts starting this summer down to a change in the operator’s modelling rather than anything
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