Today’s announcement by AGL signals that burning coal for power could end within eight years, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
“This is the first hint of a realistic closure date for coal-burning power,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“Preserving a safe climate for our children means ending coal power in Australia by 2030.
“Today’s announcement by AGL is a clear sign that 2030 is a realistic deadline for NSW to ditch coal power altogether."
Today in its half-year results presentation, AGL brought forward the closure of Bayswater coal-fired power station, identifying a closure window of 2030 to 2033. [2]
With cheaper coal supplies than its competitors, Bayswater is likely to be the last coal-burning power station standing in NSW, as lower-cost wind, solar, and batteries steadily make coal-burning an unprofitable source of power. [1]
“We call on all NSW coal power stations to release realistic, pre-2030 closure dates and provide communities and workers with certainty and support,” Mr Gambian said.
“While it’s important that AGL has acknowledged today that Bayswater could close in 2030, its backstop date of 2033 closure is still unrealistic. AGL needs to come clean so that workers and the region can plan for the future.”
AGL’s biggest customer, Tomago Aluminium, has announced that it will switch to renewable energy once its current electricity supply contract ends in 2028.
“According to energy analysts Reputex, a Paris agreement-compliant energy transition for NSW would see all five coal-burning power stations close by 2030, and a rapid deployment of wind, solar and battery power across regional NSW," Mr Gambian said. [3]
Further information:
[1] ACIL Allen’s Fuel and Technology Cost Review provided future fuel cost scenarios for all NSW power stations (Macquarie Generation includes Bayswater and Liddell): ACIL Allen, 20 June 2014
[2] AGL 2022 Half-Year Results Presentation 10 February 2022 , slide 9