Coal power still the dominant electricity in NSW with renewables hardly helping   

Stark figures reveal one state’s overwhelming energy reliance on fossil fuel even as it prepares to shut two major coal power plants. 

On Wednesday Sydney 2GB radio host Ben Fordham noted on-air that the city’s preceding two hot days, where temperatures climbed up to around 35C, almost led to blackouts in NSW.

He said the state’s energy market operator triggered an amber alert to urgently call more power to the grid as it struggled keep air conditioners running.

Fordham said during the 48-hour period coal was the dominant source of power, contributing 68 per cent of the energy used.

The remaining third of power came from gas, which contributed a measly two percent, hydro was five per cent, while wind and solar generated 12 and 13 per cent respectively.

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During a two-day heatwave coal proved to still be the dominant source of power for NSW, according to radio host Ben Fordham

Fordham said over past year coal had generated almost 73 per cent of the state’s power needs, something not acknowledged by Coalition NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean or his federal Labor counterpart Chris Bowen.

‘I think there a few politicians out there who owe us all an apology because the way they have demonised coal and gas has left us all vulnerable,’ Fordham said. 

‘Coal is still the most vital energy source (but) those days are coming to an end.’

Fordham noted the Liddell Power Station in the N SW Hunter Region, which provides around 10 per cent of the state’s coal-fired electricity, is set to shut in March. 

Fordham was scathing about Australia’s energy policies saying politicians owed the public an apology for ‘demonising coal’

Australia’s largest fossil fuel power plant, the Eraring Station on the NSW Central Coast which provides a quarter of the state’s coal-fired energy and 10 per cent of Australia’s overall power, is set to close in 2025.

The closure is seven years earlier than previously planned after surprise decision by owner Origin.

‘In under two years say goodbye to Liddell and say goodbye to Eraring – there is nothing to replace them,’ Fordham said.

‘That wipes out about 30 per cent of the power from the grid.

‘Blackout warnings are going to be as regular as our traffic warnings on 2GB.’

Fordham said the plan to replace the plants was ‘simply embarrassing’

He noted the gas plant being built in the town of Kurri Kurri is a year behind schedule, a proposed ‘super battery’ will only store about two hours of power for the state and there were major questions over the Snowy 2.0 hydrogen/hydro project.

‘No one is suggesting it (the proposed replacements) makes up for the coal plants,’ Fordham said.

Fordham predicted as a result of losing coal electricity power prices go up ‘as if they are not high enough already’.

The talkback host referred to an article by former ACTU boss and Labor MP Jennie George, which appeared in The Australian on February 15, arguing NSW heavy industry was going to suffer from power shortages when the coal plants shut.  

NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean (pictured right at the Rocky Horror Picture Show musical in Sydney in February) was a particular target of Fordham over energy concerns

‘Relying on renewables and battery power won’t cut the mustard for local industry,’ Fordham said.

‘We need to keep these coal plants going until renewables are able to carry the load.’

He urged NSW Premier Dominic Perrott to act urgently to make this happen. 

Fordham also pointed out Germany has reopened 20 coal plants to get it through the winter, while China and India were adding fossil fuel power in huge amounts. 

‘The rest of the world must think we are morons,’ Fordham said. 

‘We have this stuff (coal) coming our of ears.

‘And the people in charge don’t want to use it, what a monumental failure.’