Dramatic decrease for coal

COAL-fired generation reached an alltime low of 438 megawatts in the fourth quarter of 2022.

This is according to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) quarterly energy dynamics report, which outlined that coal generation was 42 percent lower than the same quarter in the previous year.

The report states this was caused by a reduction in facility availability due to coal preservation and ensuring adequate stockpiles for summer.

To offset the coal decrease, gas-fired generation increased by an average of 213 MW (+35 percent), with gas supplying 37.4 percent of underlying demand on average, making it the primary fuel type throughout the quarter.