Tensions emerge between state and federal governments over Australia’s energy grid roadmap

The Clean Energy Council says investors committed to 400MW of new capacity in the first half of 2023 but more than 10 times that amount was needed yearly to meet emissions reduction targets. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Cracks in the unity of the nation’s energy ministers have emerged amid disquiet over a review of power grid plans and an effort by the federal government to force carbon offsets from big new gas fields on to the states.

Almost two weeks on from a gathering of energy and climate ministers in Tasmania, senior officials expressed concern about how the review of the integrated system plan (ISP) – the grid’s roadmap – would be handled. One concern was that the federal energy minister, Chris Bowen’s department would be handling the review.