Supporters of the fossil fuels are too invested in old technology to admit coal and gas are to blame for our summer blackouts. The clean energy revolution is happening - but the fossil fuel lobby is trying to slow it down by sabotaging our energy system.

The truth is, renewables don’t cause blackouts. If anything, blackouts are made more likely by the climate crisis.

The climate emergency is driving extreme heat waves. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has acknowledged that climate impacts are contributing to extreme temperatures, leading to high electricity demand as people use their air conditioners and fans to manage during summer.  

Ageing, polluting coal-fired power stations can’t cope in the heat and when they break down, the energy grid blacks out.   

The best way to avoid blackouts during the summer is to invest in renewables and storage. Solar and wind power will deliver on our hottest days when coal is most likely to fail.
 

Fact Check: Blackouts

Are renewables to blame for blackouts?

Not at all. Old and unreliable coal and gas power stations aren’t able to handle the heat - so during the hottest days, they often shut down to avoid catastrophic failure. The climate crisis means we’re seeing more frequent and intense heat waves, meaning these old coal and gas stations will only become less reliable in the future.

In fact, coal and gas power stations have failed over 200 times over the last 24 months. This summer is expected to put these old carbon emitting clunkers through the wringer.

The more renewables and storage, the better prepared our network will be for extreme weather events. Renewables work best when the sun is hottest and winds are strong - so they’re perfect for supplying power over hot summer’s days. They’re also more distributed across the country than fossil fuel plants, meaning fewer points of weakness if a power line goes down in high winds.

I don’t remember these blackouts before renewables - why are we seeing them more now?

You’re seeing the result of years of Liberal dysfunction on energy policy that’s meant little new investment in power generation.

Years of uncertainty over energy policy has meant clean energy companies have put the brakes on investment in Australia - and while the Greens’ led Clean Energy Finance Corporation has put more clean power in the system than ever, we need more.

If we’re going to fix the problem, we need the government to clearly support the growing renewable energy industry, ending years of uncertainty and helping to build the clean energy

Why do blackouts happen over summer?

People who are trying to make clean energy fail like to point the fingers at renewables, but blackouts can happen for many reasons. It can be because a coal or gas plant shuts down in the heat, or when a storm knocks a tree onto power lines. Very rarely, it can also occur because of human error in setting up complicated power infrastructure.

It can also occur because people are trying to use more power than there is available. When lots of people try and turn on energy expensive products like air conditioning, the system fails to meet demand.

Should we use gas to 'firm up' generation on the way to renewables?

Not only is gas a major contributor to climate change and the most expensive form of energy, but it can be as unreliable as coal in hot weather, and gas plant failures have led to blackouts in the past.

We shouldn’t be doubling down on inferior ‘solutions’ that will only worsen the climate crisis while failing to improve reliability.

What is the Greens plan to sure up power?

The cleanest and cleanest option to provide Australians with ready and reliable power is renewables with storage.

Storage can come in many forms - chemical storage like South Australia’s ‘big battery’, and pumped hydro or kinetic options that store energy with gravity.

Our plan will also embrace green hydrogen as a long-term energy storage medium. This will mean Australia can not only store renewable energy for us to use, but also allow us to send it overseas, continuing our proud tradition as an energy export superpower.

What happens when the wind isn’t blowing and sun isn’t shining?

Good planning ensures renewable projects are located in areas with reliable wind and sun.

Wind turbines are built in areas with constant, reliable wind, ensuring they’re able to continue delivering power throughout most conditions.

Solar projects are similarly located in reliably sunny areas, and can continue operating even when there are clouds overhead.

Storage solutions are critical to ensure we get to 100% renewables. The Greens will continue to advocate for increased storage capacity to smooth out generation throughout the day, and for a storage target to provide market certainty and drive investment.

If old coal fired power plants are unreliable, why not build new coal?

Coal is the cause of the problem! The burning of coal, oil and gas is the leading cause of climate change, and doubling down on fossil fuels will only lead to more frequent and intense heat waves and droughts.

Renewables are not only cheaper than new coal, but they’re more reliable and faster to build. If the government was serious about preventing future blackouts they’d be extending the Renewable Energy Target beyond 2020 and include storage targets.