Australian Energy Market Operator puts nuclear out in the cold in $122b power grid plan

Already a subscriber?The energy market operator has dismissed Peter Dutton’s argument that nuclear is the best replacement for coal-fired power, instead calling for another $3.4 billion for transmission lines to support the shift to renewables.

It said nuclear technology is “a lot more expensive” than other options and the time needed to design and build nuclear reactors meant it would be “too slow” to replace the accelerating closure of coal power stations. The market operator restated that some 6 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity need to be added every year this decade; however,Nuclear costs are not considered in the document, the 2024 Integrated Systems Plan, as the planning for a net-zero grid by mid-century is based on existing law and policy.

Mr Bowen said Mr Dutton and his Nationals counterpart David Littleproud “don’t have the guts” to tell Australians the detail of their plan because it simply wouldn’t stack up when compared to what the energy industry experts are saying in the report. Nuclear “is at least 20 years away and does not have a role to play under the lowest-cost pathway for renewables, storage and transmission,” Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton said.The estimated investment $16 billion in transmission – 13 per cent of the total by 2050 – would pay off for consumers, the market operator said, It said that building the lines would result in $18.5 billion of avoided extra costs for homes and businesses, as well as $3.

Another seven should now progress through planning and delivery, the market operator said, including two worth $4.4 billion that were already included in. The new projects added include the $2.52 billion QNI Connect project between Queensland and NSW, and the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone.

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