Australia’s biggest cities are at risk of rolling blackouts in the coming summers as temperatures rise and coal power plants shut down, the energy regulator has warned.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said “urgent” investment is required to ensure the reliability of the National Energy Market (NEM) after its annual Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report found the power network isn’t transitioning to renewables as quickly as it needs to.
According to the report, Victoria is expected to have reliability issues this summer, as higher temperatures caused by a potential El Niño lead consumers to use more energy issues in an attempt to stay cool.
South Australia is also forecast to have issues this summer and again from 2028-29, NSW from 2025-26 and Queensland from 2029-30.
The NEM operates in NSW, the ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
“This year’s report highlights the pace of Australia’s energy transition and the urgency needed to deliver new investment to ensure reliable, affordable and cleaner energy for consumers,” AEMO CEO Daniel Westerman said.
(9 News)
