The Australian Energy Market Operator has forecast that NSW is secure in its power supply.
I am working across government and with industry to ensure that our electricity supply is stable and affordable for homes and businesses.
AGL, state and federal governments, and the broader electricity industry have known about Liddell’s closure since 2015.
Liddell has served NSW well for more than 50 years. But it’s not our energy future. NSW is already transitioning to a renewable energy future and that will continue.
I want to thank AGL and the Liddell workforce for the careful and orderly way that they have managed the transition and closure. AGL have demonstrated that industry is thinking about the future and moving towards renewables.
In 2022, Liddell made around 1260MW available, a fraction of its rated capacity due to the age of the power station.
The renewable projects constructed in NSW since mid-2019 can produce the same or more electricity each year – including around 2060MW of large-scale solar and 840MW of wind.
NSW’s energy future is mostly renewable power. Renewables are the cheapest power for families and businesses, and they bring us towards a net zero future.
The government is focused on ensuring that more projects are coming through the pipeline – coupled with transmission, firming, and large-scale batteries to maintain reliability of supply.
Liddell has been part of the Hunter community for many generations. AGL hopes that the site will have a bright future as an industrial energy hub. I look forward to working with industry and the community on future plans.
Penny Sharpe
Minister for Energy
Minister for Climate Change
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Heritage