According to the Clean Energy Council, the final approval of the Kurri Kurri gas peaking plant undermines Australia’s efforts to deliver lower-cost power, reduce emissions, and build a reliable energy system.
“A utility-scale battery for this site was the smarter choice both economically and environmentally,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton.
“The Clean Energy Council’s paper, Battery Storage – The New, Clean Peaker, outlined that batteries are cheaper than open-cycle gas turbine plants, like what’s planned for Kurri Kurri, for providing electricity peaking services.
“The Kurri Kurri plant is only expected to run for about one week of every year. When battery storage can deliver a cost saving of 30 per cent while delivering greater flexibility and significantly reducing emissions intensity, it makes no sense to be spending taxpayer dollars on this fossil fuel project.
“It sends the wrong message to clean energy investors and to communities at a time when the International Energy Agency says that there is no space for new fossil fuel developments if the world is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.”
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