Coal Closures Could Lead to Longer Blackouts

Australia’s energy grid is facing a new kind of vulnerability as the planned shutdown of coal power plants raises the risk of prolonged blackouts that could last up to 24 hours

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Pick & Scroll News
June 29, 2025

Australia’s energy grid is facing a new kind of vulnerability as the planned shutdown of coal power plants raises the risk of prolonged blackouts that could last up to 24 hours. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is warning that without faster investment in critical backup systems, the growing role of renewable energy may reduce the system’s ability to restart power after a major outage.


At present, coal and gas generators continue to play a key role in stabilising and restarting the grid during large-scale blackouts. These facilities have the mechanical capability to restart power by pushing electricity through turbines. However, as coal plants retire and rooftop solar becomes more dominant, the restart process is becoming more difficult, particularly during the day when solar generation limits space for other power sources.


AEMO says there is a growing shortfall in infrastructure that supports grid reliability. New solutions such as grid-forming inverters, synchronous condensers and advanced gas turbines are not being deployed fast enough to replace traditional coal and gas systems. The restart processes that were once reliable may soon falter without new incentives to bring more backup capacity into the system.


This situation is emerging during a broader transition to green energy. Renewables now make up over 40% of Australia’s electricity mix and increase even further during midday because of solar output. The national goal is to reach 82% renewables by 2030. However, the existing grid was not built for a decentralised, renewables-heavy setup and adapting it to handle blackout recovery is becoming increasingly complex.


AEMO's key point is that keeping the grid resilient during the transition to cleaner energy will take both thoughtful planning and significant investment in modern restart capabilities. Until those systems are in place, the likelihood of longer blackouts during major disruptions remains a serious concern.