Fastest change in the world: coal’s demise sparks call for energy market reforms
The Age
April 30, 2021


The future of coal power is dead and buried as cheaper renewables make it uneconomic for private companies to keep their ageing plants firing, the Commonwealth’s energy adviser says as it calls for urgent reforms to an energy market going through the fastest transition in the world.

The Energy Security Board, which reports to the Council of Australian Governments, called for a nationally co-ordinated approach to address “concerning and urgent” threats to the reliability of the energy grid.



The problem has been building since 2018 when the federal government abandoned its National Energy Guarantee policy, which was intended to co-ordinate the rise of renewable energy with dispatchable energy from large scale batteries, pumped hydro, or gas peaking plants that can be deployed to rapidly fill gaps when solar and wind power aren’t available.

Wind and solar farms, along with rooftop panels, are being built at an increasing pace and pouring more and more power into the grid. But to ensure there are no blackouts, weather-dependent renewables need dispatchable back-up supply to fill gaps in the grid.

ESB chair Kerry Schott said “the economics of coal is that nobody will build it” and the expected end of the lifespans of existing plants were approaching faster than anticipated.

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Dr Schott said the current growth in renewables was on track to grow from 37 per cent of the energy mix in 2020 to exceed 75 per cent before 2040 which “means our energy system is experiencing the fastest and most substantial change in the world”.

“The old coal plants will gradually not work anymore. They are commercially unviable, you can watch them struggling economically, and they’re constantly having write-downs,” she said.

A quarterly report released by the Australian Energy Market Operator on Wednesday showed why coal plants, which have to pay for their fuel and cover running costs, are struggling to compete with wind and solar which get their fuel for free.






Wholesale spot prices have plummeted in Victoria and NSW in the first quarter, and have even dropped to zero or negative prices in some areas, due to the recent surge in renewables.

The ESB Post 2025 Market Design Options report, released on Friday, said a “national approach could better facilitate consumer outcomes”. Submissions on the options paper are open now and a final report is expected in June.

The potential for new gas plants is a contentious issue. The federal government is spruiking a gas-fired recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and has suggested it would build a new 750 megawatt gas plant near Newcastle. Renewables advocates argue batteries and pumped hydro can replace gas as the grid’s dispatchable power source, and others including the Grattan Institute and former chief scientist Alan Finkel have said gas remains important to support renewables but they don’t expect the volume used to supply the grid to grow.


Coal's rapid decline won't cripple future energy grid: COAG study
The ESB has proposed a suite of new policies and regulations including new reporting requirements on the expected date of coal plant closures, measures to encourage investment in dispatchable power, co-ordinated planning around the renewable energy zones promoted by state governments, mechanisms to solve problems around the shortfall of dispatchable power and other technical security issues.

Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor said government responses to the ESB would be critical to protect industry and consumers from higher prices and ensure reliable energy supply.

“All governments are responsible for delivering energy outcomes for Australians, which is why we are pursuing a nationally consistent approach to reforms that will deliver an affordable and reliable energy system,” Mr Taylor said.

So China is building a lot of coal plant and won't be able to use it; either at home or abroad? And India won't be able to use their coal plant either?

Abou the miners, all the government has to do is "teach them how to code".

"“Biden Suggests Coal Miners Learn to Code To Be Prepared for 'Jobs of the Future'.”

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-new-hampshire-campaign-code-1479913

I mean if it is good enough for Biden it should be good enough for Australians.

whiteknight wrote on Apr 30^th, 2021 at 7:22am:



And also the subsidies that renewables get.