Engineers Australia has welcomed the 2017 release of Chief Scientist and Engineer Dr Alan Finkel’s Independent Electricity Review and has called for urgent bi-partisan support of its recommendations to ensure investment certainty in the energy sector.

The long awaited Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market calls for a new clean energy target, promotes greater use of gas and recommends notice periods of three years for companies wanting to shut power stations.

Engineers Australia Energy Spokesman Chris Stoltz says the significance of Dr Finkel’s Review is profound – however, Governments must also focus on the immediate technological challenges around establishing a secure and affordable supply of electricity quickly.

‘With no clear national transition strategy in place to avert an energy security crisis, policy makers need to be looking at what assets are in operation now - or can be clawed back into operation very quickly - to get us through the next couple of years while investments in new technology roll out.

‘Although the review includes recommendations to improve the policy signals to both the government and private energy operators, government can’t wait for only private investment and must start supporting generation and transmission initiatives to keep the lights on. A focus on the short term is vital to that end – getting existing assets back into generation is a way to do that,’ Mr Stoltz said.

Engineers Australia also commends the report for recommending incentive payments for business and consumers to reduce their usage at peak times.  The Report also highlights the intermittency problems that some forms of renewable energy have, and recommends additional engineering solutions to ensure their reliable integration into the grid.

‘The findings provide concrete evidence that policy makers can no longer put their heads in the sand about our energy security. Around 70% of our thermal generation needs to be replaced in the next ten years. We need a properly engineered system to take over,’ said Mr Stoltz.

Engineers Australia has long been calling for a national transition plan to avert an energy security crisis that could gridlock the nation. 

That plan includes establishing a consistent policy framework and rules to encourage the take up of renewable and other low or zero emissions technologies that are compatible and build on the current grid and off grid options.

Mr Stoltz said electricity needs to be secure, affordable and with low emissions.

‘This report acknowledges that there’s no single energy source that can currently provide all three – but many are needed and the country must transition to a renewable and modern grid. We can’t wait for another South Australian blackout.’