The Grattan Institute will appear at Wednesday’s fourth public hearing for the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy’s inquiry into the current circumstances, and the future need and potential for dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 31 August 2021

The Grattan Institute will appear at Wednesday’s fourth public hearing for the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy’s inquiry into the current circumstances, and the future need and potential for dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia. Committee Chair Mr Ted O’Brien MP said that “the Grattan Institute’s recent analysis considers how Australia can incorporate the growth in renewable energy within the National Electricity Market”. “We are looking forward to discussing the Institute’s work and perspectives, including its views on the roles of gas generation, battery storage and interstate transmission in balancing the electricity system; and the policy and market frameworks needed to deliver new technologies for a zero-emissions future”, Mr O’Brien said. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 1 September 2021 Time: 10.15 am to 11.00 am Location: via videoconference Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Committee proceedings held in Parliament House are not currently open to the public. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP (Fairfax, QLD), Committee Chair Media Advisor, 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4580 environment.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.  

Professor of Engineering at ANU, Andrew Blakers, to appear at Wednesday’s third public hearing for the Environment and Energy committee’s inquiry into dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.

Media release issue date: Wednesday, 25 August 2021

Professor of Engineering at the Australian National University (ANU), Andrew Blakers, will appear at Wednesday’s third public hearing for the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy’s inquiry into the current circumstances, and the future need and potential for dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia. Committee Chair Mr Ted O’Brien MP said that ‘this public hearing is an opportunity for the Committee to hear more about the requirements to balance an electricity market comprising more and more renewables, including through long-distance transmission, demand management, legacy generation sources and storage options.’ ‘Professor Blakers has significant expertise in energy matters. We are looking forward to discussing his research and his views on the future prospects and prerequisites for dispatchable energy in Australia’, Mr O’Brien said. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 25 August 2021 Time: 10.15 am to 11.00 am Location: via videoconference Due to Covid-19 restrictions, committee proceedings held in Parliament House are not currently open to the public. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media enquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP (Fairfax, QLD), Committee Chair Media Advisor, 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4580 environment.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website www.aph.gov.au/environment. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy will on Wednesday hold a public hearing for its inquiry into the current circumstances, and the future need and potential for dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 10 August 2021

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy will on Wednesday hold a public hearing for its inquiry into the current circumstances, and the future need and potential for dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.   Representatives from CSIRO will appear before the Committee to discuss Australia’s current and future energy mix, specific dispatchable energy technologies and future frameworks that need to be considered to ensure Australia’s energy system is equipped for the future. Committee Chair Mr Ted O’Brien MP said that “the CSIRO is Australia’s preeminent science agency and will provide the Committee with an insight into how Australia’s energy sector, combined with scientific technologies, can catalyse energy transition towards improved dispatchable energy generation and greater storage capability.” “CSIRO will be able to bring to the Committee valuable insight from their scientific research in this area,” Mr O’Brien said. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 11 August 2021 Time: 10.15 am to 11.15 am Location: via videoconference Program 10.15 am – 11.15 am: CSIRO Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Committee proceedings held in Parliament House are not currently open to the public. The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Media inquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP (Fairfax, QLD), Committee Chair Media Advisor, 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4580 environment.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website www.aph.gov.au/environment. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy today launched a new inquiry into dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 25 March 2021

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy today launched a new inquiry into dispatchable energy generation and storage capability in Australia.  Committee Chair, Ted O’Brien MP said that “Australia’s energy system is changing. We are seeing rapid growth in renewable energy and the retirement of thermal energy capabilities which creates a risk of unintended consequences. “As older power stations leave the market, we can’t rely on intermittent renewables alone to keep the lights on and the costs down,” said Mr O’Brien. “We need sufficient dispatchable generation capacity to balance renewables, so the electricity system is affordable, reliable and secure. Our new inquiry will tackle this generational challenge by assessing both sides of the equation - generation and storage. “It’s not just about how the system works today but how it might work in the future, so we’ll assess the future need for dispatchability and the potential for different types of technology. “We will learn from what’s happening elsewhere in the world to address this challenge while exploring opportunities for Australia to export dispatchable zero-emissions power to others. “We’re at a turning point in how our electricity market operates and how we respond will be a major determinant of our strength as a nation well into the future. We have to get it right.” Further information, including the inquiry’s full terms of reference, is available on its website. The Committee will accept submissions addressing the terms of reference until 7 May 2021. Media inquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP (Fairfax, QLD), Committee Chair Media Advisor, 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4580 environment.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website www.aph.gov.au/environment. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.