Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast A blueprint to quit coal, and go green
Dec 12, 2025
Nicola Falcon, a senior executive at AEMO, leads the conversation on the 2026 Integrated System Plan with her insights on transitioning to renewable energy. She highlights that baseload power isn’t necessary for grid stability, addressing the rapid growth of batteries and their role in complementing solar energy. The discussion covers the pressing need for increased renewable capacity by 2030, challenges posed by Queensland's coal policies, and the critical importance of transmission networks in realizing significant consumer savings. Falcon also emphasizes the contributions of household resources like rooftop PV and EVs.
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Prepare For Coal To Become Flexible, Not Baseload
- Expect most coal outside Queensland to retire by 2035 and all before 2040 due to age and economics.
- Plan for flexibility as remaining coal will need to operate on very different, on-off cycles.
Household Resources Will Power Half The Grid
- By 2050, consumer energy resources (rooftop PV, batteries, EVs) could supply half of NEM capacity.
- Coordinating these resources could reduce transition costs by about $7.2 billion.
WA Shows What Fast Transition Looks Like
- Western Australia shows rapid transition is possible where governance aligns and the system is simpler.
- WA's isolated grid relies heavily on utility-scale batteries and different market structures than the NEM.