❓ Dr. Thomas questions the government's commitment to closing coal-fired power stations by 2029, inquiring about potential extensions, reliance on gas, and renewable energy plans. The government reaffirms its 2030 commitment but provides vague answers regarding gas and renewable energy.
AnsweredQoN 638Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Coal-fired power stations
638. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the
government's proposed energy transition plan that includes the closure of all
coal-fired power stations by October 2029, and to the article in Business News this week that suggested the
government was:
… leaving the door ajar to
extend the life of coal-fired assets before the 2030 hard deadline.
The article also
quoted the Minister for Energy as saying:
If that means extending slightly within
that 2030 timeframe, we'll do that …
(1) Does the government now accept that it may not
be possible to close all coal-fired power generation in Western Australia by
October 2029 as previously planned?
(2) Will the closure of coal generation require
additional gas-fired electricity generation into the South West Interconnected
System (SWIS) and, if so, how much will need to be added?
(3) Does the government support any of the current
proposals for additional gas-fired power generation into the SWIS and, if so,
which ones?
(4) Does the updated government energy transition
plan also aim to add 23 gigawatts of additional renewable energy into the SWIS,
and would the estimated cost of this be $20 billion over the next 20 years?
638. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
and Decarbonisation:
I refer to the
government's proposed energy transition plan that includes the closure of all
coal-fired power stations by October 2029, and to the article in Business News this week that suggested the
government was:
… leaving the door ajar to
extend the life of coal-fired assets before the 2030 hard deadline.
The article also
quoted the Minister for Energy as saying:
If that means extending slightly within
that 2030 timeframe, we'll do that …
(1) Does the government now accept that it may not
be possible to close all coal-fired power generation in Western Australia by
October 2029 as previously planned?
(2) Will the closure of coal generation require
additional gas-fired electricity generation into the South West Interconnected
System (SWIS) and, if so, how much will need to be added?
(3) Does the government support any of the current
proposals for additional gas-fired power generation into the SWIS and, if so,
which ones?
(4) Does the updated government energy transition
plan also aim to add 23 gigawatts of additional renewable energy into the SWIS,
and would the estimated cost of this be $20 billion over the next 20 years?
AnswerView source ↗
It is not even a
Thursday and I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question!
(1) The government remains committed to retiring state-owned
coal-fired power stations by 2030.
(2) Additional gas generation is part of the
modelled least-cost generation mix for the South West Interconnected System.
(3) The independent energy market operator decides
which proposals for additional power generation merit capacity credit revenue
under their market arrangements.
(4) The South West Interconnected System
transmission plan will be released by government this year.
Thursday and I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question!
(1) The government remains committed to retiring state-owned
coal-fired power stations by 2030.
(2) Additional gas generation is part of the
modelled least-cost generation mix for the South West Interconnected System.
(3) The independent energy market operator decides
which proposals for additional power generation merit capacity credit revenue
under their market arrangements.
(4) The South West Interconnected System
transmission plan will be released by government this year.
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