Statement on the updated AEMO electricity Statement of Opportunity

“The latest update to AEMO’s Electricity Statement of Opportunity has set out the challenge for Australia over the rest of this decade.

“A reliability gap of more than 1 GW has been forecast by AEMO over the next few years.

“This is due largely to continued uncertainty about the planned closures of ageing coal-fired power stations, as well as delays to the rollout of much-needed transmission upgrades and construction of new generation.

“Only by speeding up the construction of renewable generation, storage and new transmission will be able to avoid blackouts and electricity price explosions over the next decade.

“There is no viable alternative, as no other energy source will be able to meet growing demand within this timeframe.”