Western Australia's plan to be coal-free by 2030 faces challenges due to a shortage of new transmission and generation capacity. Experts warn that the ambitious target is unlikely to be met on time, citing the lack of investment in renewable energy infrastructure and the high connection fees for industrial customers.
Experts are expressing concerns that Western Australia's ambitious plan to phase out coal-fired power by 2030 might not be realized on schedule due to a shortage of new transmission and generation capacity. Under a commitment made by former Premier Mark McGowan in 2020, the state-owned power provider, Synergy, is slated to shut down its two remaining coal-fired power stations by the end of the decade. Synergy has already allocated approximately 90 percent of the $3.
7 billion initially earmarked for wind farms and large-scale battery projects to replace its retiring coal plants. However, there are substantial doubts regarding the ability to meet the target.The government's strategy to retire coal involves Synergy constructing 1100 megawatts of storage and, in collaboration with the Water Corporation, adding more than 800 megawatts of wind capacity. Intelligence suggests that the shortfall in new wind generation is particularly acute, with the combined target set by the Water Corporation and Synergy lagging by more than 500 megawatts, or 60 percent, behind the desired amount. Energy consultant Peter Kerr, who has worked on projects involving wind, solar, and battery development, cautions that the government's timeline for coal phase-out by 2030 seems highly improbable. He emphasizes the critical need for sufficient renewable energy to displace coal and stresses that the state is not building or connecting enough renewable energy sources through new transmission lines.The government's plan to connect renewables to WA's main power grid, the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), faces significant financial hurdles. To cover the costs associated with transmission upgrades, the government is proposing to charge industrial customers $100,000 per megawatt for new connections to the SWIS. This fee has been criticized by the Smart Energy Council, the peak body for the renewable energy industry in Australia, as 'extortionate,' arguing that it will deter investment in WA and hinder the energy transition.The council warns that such a high cost will ultimately be passed on to consumers, potentially jeopardizing the state's progress towards cleaner energy. Additionally, the absence of specific emissions reduction or renewable energy targets in WA further complicates the situation. The Smart Energy Council urges the government to prioritize the development of a robust climate change policy with meaningful targets after the March election. Meanwhile, as the state prepares for the upcoming election, Premier Roger Cook has emphasized his government's commitment to leading the nation in the green energy transition by being the first to eliminate coal-fired power by 2030.However, experts like Peter Kerr, who has extensive experience in the energy sector, remain skeptical, emphasizing that the government's ambitious goal is jeopardized by the lack of timely investment in transmission infrastructure
RENEWABLES COAL PHASE-OUT TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE ENERGY TRANSITION WESTERN AUSTRALIA
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