Synergy in name only when it comes to transition policy

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas says that State owned electricity generator Synergy seems to have a problem with implementing its own State Government’s energy transition plan.

“There appears to be absolutely no synergy between the State Government and its own energy generator when it comes to the transition out of state coal by the end on 2029” Dr Thomas said.

“Synergy released an expression of interest process for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) into the renewable energy marketplace back in July last year.

“Obviously though a lack of action by Synergy saw the Minister for Energy issue a direction to the Government’s own GTE on the 15th of December to force Synergy to act.

“That direction ordered Synergy to offer 640 megawatts of offtake agreements by the end of March 2026.

“The fact that Synergy had to be ordered by the Government using a legal directive to take action is astounding given that Synergy had the power and authority to make such agreements in their own right.

“Obviously Synergy is half hearted about the Government’s energy transition plan or the renewable projects that would be required to achieve it.

A week before the end of March deadline the Government announced offtake agreements by Synergy for 600 megawatts of generation with two wind proponents, and another project under the Water Corporation banner.

“It is no wonder that this year the Minister for Energy ordered a review into the functioning of Synergy” Dr Thomas said.

“Hopefully that review will determine whether Synergy’s management does not believe in the proposed energy transition or if it doesn’t see wind energy as the solution to it.”