Electrical workers wiring Australia into the future economy are securing an affordable, reliable energy future, according to the electricity market operator.
The Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan, released this morning, shows that a $6 billion investment in transmission is set to eliminate five times as much in future costs compared to a pathway without these projects.
The ISP is emphatic that renewable energy projects supported by battery storage and connected by transmission and distribution projects is the clearest, least-cost path to a securing affordable, reliable energy.
The market operator tested more than 1,000 different combinations of generation, storage network and consumer investments across three future scenarios to reach this conclusion.
ETU National Secretary Michael Wright said electrical workers were setting the economy up for a more resilient and capable country over the coming century.
“Energy transition is an electrical project,” Mr Wright said. “Electricity is as central to our economy as currency itself, and the work that ETU members and their workmates are doing is wiring Australia into a more secure, resilient, and abundant future.
“The Integrated System Plan is emphatic that renewable energy, backed by battery storage and connected by transmission and distribution networks, is the way forward.
“Our country has made extraordinary progress since 2022, and credit has to go to Albanese and Bowen. This progress is reflected in falling costs for solar and batteries, which mean lower bills for small businesses and households.
“This extraordinary achievement that is only possible because we have a skilled, dedicated workforce operating under sensible, high-conviction policy settings.
“However, serious questions remain as to whether we will have the workers to deliver this ISP.
“We need governments and industry to double down and seriously commit to training the 100,000 extra electrical workers Australia will need between now and 2050 to deliver energy transition, build our way out of the housing crisis and capture the benefits of the data center boom.”