SYDNEY, March 17 2021 – With a coal-dominated energy grid, Australia will fail to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 but the target could be reached by 2040 if solar and wind power installations double. A new report from Australian National University shows that Australia could slash its emissions by 80 per cent within 20 years by doubling the rollout of clean energy like solar and wind. [1]
“It’s no surprise that Australia is not on track for net-zero emissions by 2050 when the nation’s biggest domestic carbon emitter, AGL, plans to keep its dirty and unreliable coal-burning power stations running until as late as 2048,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Campaigner Glenn Walker said. [2]
“The good news is that there is still a window of opportunity to rapidly reduce emissions by replacing ageing and unreliable coal-burning power stations with safe and reliable clean energy.
“Just last week Energy Australia brought forward the closure of its Yallourn coal-burning power station in Victoria. The pressure is now on AGL to clean up its act and modernise its coal-dominated electricity generation portfolio by closing its dirtiest power stations like Loy Yang A and replacing them with wind and solar, backed up by batteries.
“Dirty, inefficient and unreliable coal power stations like Yallourn and Loy Yang A have no place in a modern electricity grid – and what’s more, they’re driving up electricity prices and delivering poor returns for investors. AGL needs to put in place a managed transition plan for their imminent closure and replacement with renewables, that safeguards jobs for the local community.”
Notes
Contact
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Communications Campaigner, Martin Zavan
0424 295 422