Energy Boss Says More Coal Power Reserves Needed to Prevent Blackouts

The boss of one of Australia’s largest energy retailers has called on state governments to build up coal generation reserves to prevent energy shortfalls from the rapid net zero transition. This comes after the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) released a new 2024 roadmap predicting that all coal-fired power stations across the country could cease operation by 2038, five years ahead of the previous forecast. While acknowledging the transition to renewable energy was occurring at “light speed,” EnergyAustralia’s Managing Director Mark Collette warned that consumers faced significant risks of blackout if there were not enough coal generation to back up the power grid, according to the Australian Financial Review....