Heatwaves and coal outages show need for more clean energy in Queensland

Unreliable, ageing coal fired power stations around Australia caused supply shortages and rocketing electricity prices at the start of the 2024 summer.

The Australian Energy Market Operator's latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics reports show that between October - December 2024, an average of 30% of Queensland’s coal fleet was unavailable at any given time. That's 2.3 GW of coal capacity unavailable. The fact that these old coal fired power stations can no longer provide reliable power, has meant that prices were the highest ever recorded for the last quarter of the year.

Renewables supplied 33 per cent Queensland’s power between October - December 2024, with coal fired power dipping below 60 per cent of Queensland's energy supply for the first time ever.

Queensland Conservation Council is calling on the State Government to ensure renewable energy supply continues to come online by releasing an energy plan.

Queensland Conservation Council Energy Strategist Clare Silcock said

It’s clear that we can’t rely on Queensland’s coal fired power stations to be online when we need them anymore. They’re breaking down so frequently that building more renewable energy and storage generation isn’t a nice to have, it’s a necessity.

It’s concerning that the Queensland Government doesn’t currently have an energy plan and are halting the assessment of new renewable projects. If we don’t have a plan to replace coal with new renewable energy backed by storage, it’s Queenslanders who will have to pay the price through higher power bills.

This report from the Australian Energy Market Operator shows that when these coal fired power stations are unexpectedly offline, especially during hot weather, prices skyrocket and Queenslanders are at risk of losing power.

To make matters worse, this report shows that the amount of new renewable energy generation coming online is slowing down. It is baffling that in a supply crisis, when coal fired power stations can’t be relied upon, the State Government is stopping assessment of new renewable energy.

Queenslanders know that the best way to reduce their bills is to install solar panels on their roofs, which is why Queensland is leading the world in the uptake of rooftop solar. Solar and wind farms are also bringing down prices and picking up the pieces when coal fired power stations aren’t available.

By stalling new renewable energy projects, the State Government is ultimately hurting consumers and risking Queensland’s heavy industry, which are turning to firmed renewable energy to remain globally competitive.

The Queensland Government needs to set out an energy plan to build well-sited renewable energy and storage to meet our energy needs and keep the lights on.

We need to be fixing the planning regulations to make sure renewable energy benefits nature and communities while also planning to replace our unreliable, old coal fired power stations.

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