Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has doubled down on assurances that Liddell Power Station's closure will not lead to blackouts but says there is "more work to do" beyond that.
The 52-year-old Liddell coal-fired generator in the Upper Hunter of New South Wales will go offline this Friday.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), has stated there will be no threat to supply from the closure but reliability gaps could emerge from 2025.
"It's not a power station that is a reliable source of energy any longer, given its age," Mr Bowen said.
"There's been a lot of new renewable energy and dispatchable renewable energy come on in recent times.
"So we are not concerned about any supply crunch in the energy grid on Friday, or the period following because of the closure of Liddell."
A further four power stations will be switched off across the country before 2030, which Mr Bowen says is "inevitable".
"We are dealing with a big challenge here," he said.
"Over the last decade, we had 4 gigawatts of dispatchable power come out of the grid and only 1GW come on.
"That means we have a 3GW deficit based on the last 10 years."
Playing catch-up with renewables
Mr Bowen says the federal government is committed to "bringing new renewable, dispatchable [energy] generation" as well as energy storage: "So that it's available when we need it — at night and in periods where the renewables aren't generating".
"[We're] really playing a catch-up game," he said.
"Our transition needs to be faster, but it also needs to be a lot more orderly."
Mr Bowen says those calling for the Liddell Power Station site to be held in care and maintenance need to "get better facts".
"A coal-fired power station can't just be switched on and off as necessary," he said.
"The amount of maintenance that would need to go into keeping the site while it wasn't operating — getting the workers available at short notice to run the site — it's not a realistic option.
"Liddell has been right for its time and now it's right for a closure."
Mr Bowen will tour the site to thank workers today.
"It's important to say Liddell has given the nation good service," he said.
