<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/catastrophic-coalition-plan-to-stop-renewables-and-push-nuclear-will-result-in-massive-supply-gaps/>
"Federal energy minister Chris Bowen has launched a new attack against the
federal Coalition’s nuclear power policy, saying its plan to stop renewables
and potentially “sweat” the remaining coal assets could lead to “catastrophic”
supply gaps in the electricity market.
The federal government released new modelling on Friday, the same day as
another independent report pointed to a $1,000 a year bill hike to consumers
from a nuclear power policy, and just days before Coalition leader Peter Dutton
is expected to outline more details at a Sydney event.
The Coalition has been vague about its nuclear power plans to date, identifying
only seven potential sites for large scale nuclear or small modular reactors,
but has said it intends to stop new wind, solar and battery projects, cease the
rollout of new transmission lines, and boost coal and gas output.
In response, the federal department of energy has modelled several different
scenarios, and both point to massive supply gaps in the future if the Coalition
holds firm on its promise to stop renewable, and even “tear up” as some
contracts, as National leader David Littleproud has threatened.
The department estimates that the Coalition’s energy plan will leave a “gaping
black hole” of between 18 per cent to 49 per cent of unserved energy, ie the
gap between supply and demand.
The biggest gap is created on the assumption that private coal operators do
close their ageing coal fired generators between now and 2035, and that the
Coalition does not build any new utility scale renewables beyond what’s
currently committed, and does not support new transmission builds.
On that scenario, the department modelling estimates a shortfall of around 156
terawatt hours (TWh) between demand for energy (around 316 TWh) and available
supply (arround 160 TWh).
The second scenario assumes that all coal plants are extended beyond 2040, to
allow time for the Coalition to begin construction of its promised nuclear
power plant, but that still results in a shortfall of 18 per cent if the
Coalition delivers on its promise to stop the rollout of large scale
renewables.
“These scenarios are so catastrophic for the economy, for ordinary Australians,
and for Australia’s place as an advanced country they seem implausible,” the
department report says.
“But that will be the result of the Coalition’s nuclear scheme.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
