POLICY FORUM
8 July 2021
Nursing an ageing coal-powered energy engine-room and likely to face rapid falls in the price of coal exports, Australia needs a plan for energy transition, Fiona J Beck and Kylie Catchpole write.
Last month, the G7 leaders released a joint statement committing to net-zero emissions by 2050, and an “end to direct government support for unabated international thermal coal power generation by 2021.”
‘Abated’ power generation refers to when emissions are offset by carbon capture and utilisation or storage (CCUS). So far, CCUS for coal power generation has seen very little commercial success, despite substantial global investment, meaning this statement applies to the vast majority of coal power generation.