{"id":422533,"date":"2026-01-22T11:25:42","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T10:25:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=422533"},"modified":"2026-01-22T11:25:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T10:25:44","slug":"aussie-coal-closure-delayed-to-lower-prices-and-stabilise-the-grid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=422533","title":{"rendered":"Aussie Coal Closure Delayed, to Lower Prices and Stabilise the Grid"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Power<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by<\/strong> Eric Worrall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aerial<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I know you will all be surprised as I am that $10s of billions spend on renewables has failed to produce a viable replacement for a single coal plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eraring coal-fired power station to stay open until 2029<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The country\u2019s biggest coal-fired power station will stay open for another two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eraring plant in New South Wales was due to shut next year. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will now close in April 2029 to \u201csupport energy supply\u201d through the transition to renewables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The planned closure of Australia\u2019s largest coal-fired power station will be delayed by two years, until 2029.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin Energy\u2019s Eraring power station, on the shores of Lake Macquarie, south of Newcastle, was due to shut down in August 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood progress is being made on the delivery of new energy infrastructure including major transmission works and projects like our large-scale battery at Eraring, but it has become clear Eraring Power Station will need to run for longer to support secure and stable power supply.\u201d

\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RBC Capital Markets analyst Gordon Ramsay said it was \u201cno surprise\u201d<\/strong> to the market Origin had decided to extend the life of the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Ramsay said the decision was a \u201cresult of the slower than expected rollout of renewables in Australia (other than rooftop solar)\u201d which was taking longer than the federal government\u2019s forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe also assume the government likely has growing concerns about the reliability<\/strong> associated with Australia\u2019s aging coal-fired generation fleet and its possible future impact on electricity supply and prices, particularly after Eraring\u2019s closure,<\/strong>\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Ramsay believed it might also \u201creduce what may have been higher future wholesale electricity pricing in NSW\u201d had Eraring closed next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Read more: https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-01-20\/eraring-coal-fired-power-station-to-stay-open-until-2029\/106247568<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m confused. If renewables are cheaper than coal, how can keeping a coal plant open help reduce wholesale prices? And if coal is a far greater threat to grid reliability than renewables, as our Aussie federal energy minister has assured us<\/a>, why does our reliable renewable grid need backup from an unreliable old coal plant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Aussie Climate Minister Slams Queensland’s Reliance on Intermittent Coal<\/a><\/blockquote>