In a historic move, Australia, once infamous for its weak climate policies, has decommissioned its oldest coal-fired power plant, making way for a significant shift towards renewable energy. The Liddell power station, located a three-hour drive north of Sydney, is the first of several aging coal-fired facilities scheduled for closure in the next few years. Since its establishment in 1971, Liddell has been responsible for approximately 10% of the electricity consumed in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state.
AGL, Liddell’s owner, announced that the massive facility’s demolition would take roughly two years. This would pave the way for new clean energy projects, including a potential hydrogen power plant. AGL revealed that over 90% of the power station’s materials would be recycled, including 70,000 tonnes of steel – an amount exceeding the steel content of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. For many years, coal has been the primary source of Australia’s electricity. However, Mark Diesendorf, a renewable energy expert from the University of New South Wales, told AFP news agency that power plants like Liddell have become outmoded and inefficient “dinosaurs.”
Continued dependence on such polluting, costly, and inefficient coal-fired power plants would render Australia’s climate goals nearly unattainable. Although Australia has been a major coal producer and exporter for years, the newly elected center-left Labor Party has committed to sourcing 82% of the nation’s electricity from renewable energy by 2030. This ambitious target requires a significant transformation, as Australia currently only generates around 30% of its power from renewables.
Diesendorf explained to AFP that the plans involve a relatively swift transition. There is no economic reason for replacing these stations with brand-new coal, he added, adding that they are past due for retiring. Under increased public pressure to confront the climate crisis, numerous Australian fossil fuel companies are opting to close old coal plants rather than maintain their operations. The country’s largest coal-fired power station, the Eraring facility in New South Wales, is set to close in 2025, with several others to follow within the next decade.
The true test of this transition will be whether renewable energy sources can adequately replace the retiring coal plants. However, a government report suggests that Australia is on the right track. The Australian Energy Market Operator found that record levels of renewable electricity, primarily from solar power, are already reducing both emissions and household energy costs. According to climate finance expert Tim Buckley, Australia, with its abundant sunshine and vast, windswept coasts, possesses the ideal conditions to become a renewable energy powerhouse.
Buckley told AFP, “Every single week, there’s news about a new battery, wind farm, or other significant projects being greenlit.” The real challenge, he noted, lies in storing this energy and distributing it across the vast distances separating Australian towns and cities. “We’re dealing with projects that haven’t been attempted in Australia for decades, where labor shortages are genuine, and engineering hurdles are to be expected,” he said. “The likelihood of everything going flawlessly between now and 2030 is practically zero.”
Even if the transition proceeds smoothly, Australia still faces a monumental challenge in achieving its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Over the past decade, the heated “climate wars” have taken center stage in Australian politics, continually derailing efforts to decrease carbon emissions. Researchers found that 8% of Australians, more than twice the global average, disputed climate change in 2020. Moreover, although Australia intends to overhaul its domestic energy sector, the economy remains largely reliant on coal and gas exports. Numerous new coal mines, oil fields, and gas projects are currently in the government’s planning stages. Diesendorf highlighted this glaring inconsistency, stating, “In terms of still developing gas and coal mines for export, we are a terrible laggard.” He added, “It’s a real contradiction.”
Addressing this contradiction will be crucial for Australia’s transition to a low-carbon future. As the country continues to shut down its coal-fired power plants, it must also reevaluate its reliance on fossil fuel exports and invest more heavily in renewable energy technologies. Developing a comprehensive plan to tackle both domestic and international emissions will be essential for Australia to fulfill its climate commitments and solidify its position as a global leader in renewable energy. With the closure of Liddell and other coal-fired power plants, the nation has taken a significant step towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. However, much work remains to be done to ensure a successful and complete transition to renewable energy sources.