New energy projects needed to keep the lights on

AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET

* Blackouts, power outages and increased energy prices are forecast across several states unless urgent government action is taken

* The NSW, Victorian and South Australian governments must invest in energy projects or power supply issues are likely during extreme summer periods

* Delays on new transmission lines, mothballing diesel and gas generators in South Australia and a stalled battery program in NSW are creating problems for the shift to renewable energy

* Reliability risks are predicted for NSW and Victoria until 2028, while issues in South Australia are forecast between 2026 and 2027

* To avoid problems, some state governments are exploring whether to keep open coal-fired power stations longer than planned

* The NSW government is in talks with Origin Energy to delay the 2025 closure of the Eraring power station

Source: Australian Energy Market Operator

Bray Boland
(Australian Associated Press)