Antinuclear

Too old, too expensive: Coal can’t wait for nuclear, says energy regulator

SMH, Mike Foley, October 24, 2024 

Australia’s top independent energy officials are warning the nation’s fleet of coal power plants is too old and costly to keep running until Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s proposed nuclear reactors are ready to replace them.

A high-stakes parliamentary inquiry began on Thursday with witnesses from national energy agencies and nuclear authorities. It was launched to expose flaws in the opposition’s nuclear policy, but has the potential to backfire as the Coalition challenges the costs of the government’s ambitious renewable energy rollout.

The opposition has dubbed its energy election pitch a “coal-to-nuclear plan”, which would cut short the government’s renewables rollout and establish seven emissions-free nuclear plants across the country from 2035 to help the nation reach net zero by 2050.

However, Australian Energy Regulator chair Clare Savage, who heads the agency that develops the regulations for the electricity market, raised a hurdle for the opposition when she said Australia would only be ready to start building nuclear plants by the time coal plants have all but disappeared

“We cannot keep the current coal fleet running long enough for nuclear to be here,” Savage told the hearing.

The timeline for a nuclear fleet is a crucial issue because Australia’s coal-fired power plants, which supply upwards of 50 per cent of power in the electricity grid, must be replaced by 2035.

Coal plants are bringing forward closure dates as ageing equipment becomes less reliable and less competitive against cheaper renewables. The Australian Energy Market Operator expects 90 per cent of them to shut within 10 years.

Under the Albanese government’s plan, renewables will replace coal under its goal to raise the share of electricity from wind, solar and batteries to 82 per cent of the grid by 2030.

The opposition has said that coal plants should not shut “prematurely”, and it plans to start bringing the first nuclear plant online by 2037 and completing its rollout of six more before 2050

Savage said that based on her experience, it would take eight to 10 years to establish the rules needed to govern nuclear power before construction could begin.

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) said it could take about 10 years to build the first reactor in Australia after industry regulations have been established.

…………………… nuclear power is currently outlawed in state and federal laws and Savage said it would take many years to overcome this hurdle and establish inter-jurisdictional regimes. …………………….. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/too-old-too-expensive-coal-can-t-wait-for-nuclear-says-energy-regulator-20241024-p5kkxn.html

October 26, 2024 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized