BY DI SNEDDON
Nuclear is not part of the energy mix plans for the AGL energy hub surrounding Liddell Power Station.
AGL Managing Director and CEO, Damien Nicks, told The Hunter River Times AGL’s ambition to add 12GW of new renewable and firming generation by 2035 does not include nuclear energy.
“Policy certainty is important for companies like AGL and ongoing debate on the matter runs the risk of unnecessarily complicating the long-term investment decisions necessary for the energy transition.”
“There is no viable schedule for the regulation or development of nuclear energy in Australia, and the cost, build time and public opinion are all prohibitive.
“AGL is strongly focused on ensuring strong social licence with the communities and Traditional Owner groups where we operate and there remain significant unanswered questions about the cost and plans for radioactive waste.”
The comments come on the back of Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s announcement last month that the Liddell site was one of seven potential sites in Australia to host a nuclear reactor and power plant.
The announcement came as a surprise to Muswellbrook Mayor Steve Reynolds. He said it is council’s primary consideration to ensure that the Muswellbrook community is appropriately and respectfully consulted so well-informed decisions can be made.
Several initiatives have already been announced for the Liddell site to develop it into a low-emissions industrial energy hub.
In December 2023, AGL announced construction work for a 500 MW, two-hour duration, grid scale battery with commencement of operations targeted for mid-2026. The total construction cost of this grid forming battery project is estimated to be $750 million.
Also in December AGL and battery recycling start-up, Renewable Metals, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a pre-feasibility study into establishing a lithium battery recycling facility at the Liddell site.
In May this year AGL and solar technology company, SunDrive, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of a solar photovoltaic manufacturing facility at the site. If established, the advanced manufacturing facility is expected to be the first of its kind in Australia.
Just last month AGL and Elecsome also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a feasibility study for the establishment of a solar panel recycling plant and solar cable manufacturing plant.
If developed, the recycling plant would be Elecsome’s first commercial-scale solar panel recycling facility in NSW and is expected to upcycle up to 500,000 residential and grid-scale solar panels per year.
Then there is the continued feasibility work being undertaken for the proposed 400 MW Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro Project first announced in 2022, a joint venture between AGL and Idemitsu.
