“Gas-powered generation is vital to continued security of electricity supply as the National Electricity Market transitions to lower emissions targets.
“Until we have large-scale, affordable and accessible storage, intermittent renewable energy must be supported by fast-response, reliable gas-fired generation. Australia should seek to emulate the US in slashing emissions by increasing the use of natural gas for generating electricity.
“Report after report has shown that natural gas has a critical role to play in a low-emissions future as both a replacement for coal and a partner for renewables.”
- Modelling for the Climate Change Authority’s August 2016 Special Review on Australia’s Climate Goals And Policies, found under its preferred policy option that Australia must triple its use of gas in electricity generation by 2030 if we are to achieve our emissions reduction targets.
- The December 2016 Preliminary Report of the Finkel Review stated: “Gas has the potential to smooth the transition to a lower emissions electricity sector” and “The need for greater gas supplies for electricity generation is increasingly urgent.”
- The May 2016 Final Report of South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission highlighted the critical role of cleaner-burning natural gas in the low-carbon economy of the future, including as a partner for renewable energy. It found “Gas-fired generation plays a significant role in providing reliable supply under all future low-carbon scenarios for the electricity sector.”
- The November 2015 Australian Power Generation Technology Report provided a thorough, independent assessment of renewable, coal and gas technologies. It found gas-fired generation is cleaner than coal, cheaper than renewables and can adapt quickly to meet changing demand.
Dr Roberts said the US provided a clear example of what was possible.