Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, , 3:33:26 to 3:36:12
A review of the total renewable generation capacity under contract versus what has been delivered to the grid, alongside a debate on historical energy policy.
Topics: Renewable energy, Electricity grid
Speakers: Hon Tim Ayres, Hon Sarah Henderson, Speaker 21
>> Sorry of those 109 projects is uh 32 33.2 gaw
and what's the actual 33.2 two, what is the actual renewable generation capacity under contract?
>> Under contract is 13.7 gaw.
you're you're a long way short, aren't um the policy to underwrite 40 gawatt of renewable generation and storage by 2030.
>> Uh we still do have several tenders uh on foot, Senator. So at the moment there are um three tenders still uh still on foot.
So what's the actual renewable generation capacity that has been
>> Sorry you of generating projects
>> the actual renewable generation capacity that has been delivered to date under the capacity investment scheme.
>> So we still only have one one project that's operational. Senator.
>> Well, the project um the project of course the the scheme only started two years ago, Senator. So it would be remarkable if the number was higher than that. I would think um uh because as you know projects reach financial close and then they they have I was searching for these figures and and I was very pleased that you asked these questions and then the uh and then the official answered them about the number, you know, is what how many gigawatts are reached financial close um how many under contract? I mean, it's a useful point possibly uh to remind the committee that uh when Mr. Taylor was in charge of the electricity system. 24 out of 28 coal fired power stations announced their closure. Nothing happened. There's no response from government.
>> Minister, you're obviously very sensitive. >> The questions I'm asking.
>> Four gaw 4 gawatt of dispatchable energy left the grid. Four oil refineries closed. Mr. a tailored scheme didn't deliver a single watt. I mean, you couldn't light a low watt bulb uh with what the coalition delivered over those nine years of disinvestment and decay in their energy system.
>> Minister, I think uh sorry, is it >> these are these are these are
substantial achievements. >> Uh there is much more work to do. There's much more work to do.