“Catastrophic:” Coalition's Push for Nuclear Over Renewables Risks Major Energy Supply Gaps

Federal energy minister Chris Bowen has slammed the Coalition’s nuclear power plan, warning it could lead to “catastrophic” electricity supply gaps. The government’s latest modeling shows that stopping renewable projects and potentially relying on ageing coal plants could leave Australia with a shortfall of up to 49% in energy supply.

The Coalition has proposed halting new solar, wind, and battery developments, while boosting coal and gas production. Federal energy modeling suggests this approach could result in a 156 terawatt-hour (TWh) gap between demand and supply by 2035 if coal plants are not replaced by renewable energy or nuclear power.

Critics argue the Coalition's nuclear plan would not only be delayed until 2035, but also increase consumer bills by $1,000 per year, as highlighted by independent reports. Despite claiming nuclear energy is a low-cost, reliable solution, experts point out the high costs and unreliability of large-scale nuclear projects, such as Plant Vogtle in the U.S.

Meanwhile, South Australia’s renewable success story, with more than 70% of energy coming from solar and wind, demonstrates the viability of large-scale renewable integration. Bowen emphasized the importance of continued investment in renewables, batteries, and transmission lines to meet Australia’s growing energy needs, contrasting it with the potential disaster of the Coalition's nuclear plan.

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