The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy has launched a new inquiry into dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.

Committee Chair, Ted O’Brien MP says that Australia’s energy system is changing and we’re seeing rapid growth in renewable energy and the retirement of thermal energy capabilities which creates a risk of unintended consequences.

“As older power stations leave the market, we can’t rely on intermittent renewables alone to keep the lights on and the costs down,” he says.

“We need sufficient dispatchable generation capacity to balance renewables, so the electricity system is affordable, reliable and secure. Our new inquiry will tackle this generational challenge by assessing both sides of the equation – generation and storage.

“It’s not just about how the system works today but how it might work in the future, so we’ll assess the future need for dispatchability and the potential for different types of technology.”

He adds that the committee will learn from what’s happening elsewhere in the world to address the issues while looking at ways and opportunities for Australia to export dispatchable zero-emissions power.

“We’re at a turning point in how our electricity market operates and how we respond will be a major determinant of our strength as a nation well into the future. We have to get it right,” Ted says.

The Committee will accept submissions addressing the terms of reference until 7 May 2021.