Chief Scientist review 'disappointing': Bendigo Sustainability Group president

Bendigo Sustainability Group President Chris Weir said the Finkel Review – carried out by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel – would deliver no significant savings in energy bills until 2050, based on the modelling used in the review. 

“I see nothing in the report that indicates a move to lower carbon in a meaningful way,” he said. 

The report, released on Friday, suggests phasing out the current Renewable Energy Target by 2020 for a broader Clean Energy Target, which, the report states, will cause shift in the national electricity grid to 42 per cent of power coming from renewable sources by 2030.

Despite this, Mr Weir believes because the review only delivers recommendations, the decision ultimately lies with the federal government, which was under extreme pressure from the political right to preserve the coal industry, he said.

Increasing the use of alternative energy sources like wind and pumped hydro are detailed in the review, however the report, prepared for the federal government and state premiers, fails to acknowledge the growth of rooftop solar, Mr Weir said. 

“You will get more and more people deserting the (electricity) grid (through installing solar panels), which means the retailers will want to put higher fixed charged on people still on the grid to address the shortfall,” he said. 

The closure of Victoria’s Hazelwood power station, coupled with an increased strain on the electricity grid last summer when parts of Victoria were put at risk of a black out to support NSW’s electricity supply, raised concerns about the maintenance of a reliable energy support during the summer of 2018. 

“Prudent actions are required to manage this risk,” the report states.

A new Energy Security Board should monitor security, reliability and planning across the energy market, the report recommends.