Another warning from AEMO that the WA power plan is inadequate

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas says that the latest report from the Australian Energy Market Operator that predicts significant energy shortfalls in coming years should be a wakeup call for the Labor Government.

“As I have said for years the Government’s current transition plan will simply run out or current and we will see the lights go out” Dr Thomas said.

“We need a new transition plan as a matter of urgency, and that plan must include additional gas generation to maintain our grid.

“Today AEMO has released its 2026 Electricity Statement of Opportunities for the Western Energy Market, which has identified significant power shortfalls in coming years without immediate action to boost generation.

“The AEMO report suggests that we will have enough power over the next three years, but this relies on the coal fired Bluewaters Power Station lasting into the 2030s and some aging gas generators staying on line.

“The lights stay on based on a predicted “higher forecast supply of peak capacity from existing and committed Facilities”, but this is reliant on not having delays in new generation coming online.

“From 2029-30 onwards however AEMO is predicting generation shortfalls starting at 166 megawatts and growing to over 2,000 megawatts by 2035.

“Even with the currently potential new facilities coming online there is a shortfall predicted of 1,565 megawatts in a decade.

“That level of shortfall is an impending crisis that will see brownouts and blackouts across the South West Interconnected System.

“A new and improved energy plan is needed, and the Government cannot wait years to deliver it.

“That new plan needs to include:

·       an extension of coal generation until it is no longer needed,

·       more peak gas generation – at least 300MW and up to 800MW, and

·       more signed offtake agreements with private renewable energy proponents so they can actually build some more projects.

“All of which was in the plan I wrote for the Opposition over two years ago” Dr Thomas said.