Climate Café: Why is Australia's electricity system in such a mess?

Hugh Saddler’s presentation – What has gone wrong with electricity supply (PDF, 605KB)

Hugh Saddler’s notes – Climate Café Hugh Saddler Notes 27 march 17 (PDF, 264KB)

A transcript of small group discussion – Climate café report 2017 03 27 (PDF, 1.76MB)

With power outages occurring in various Australian states, electricity is becoming an increasingly contested issue.  

Australia's Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, has been appointed to lead an independent review into the security of the national electricity market, with the final results due out in the first half of 2017.  

In this Climate Cafe, electricity expert Hugh Saddler, will discuss why changes to Australia's electricity system are needed.   What are the challenges?   What are the solutions?  Will the Finkel Review provide the answers?

Participants will then break into small groups to address these questions:

  • What should come out of the Finkel Review?
  • What are the chances of Finkel's proposals succeeding?
    • What are the barriers?
    • How can these barriers be overcome?

About the speaker

Honorary Associate Professor Hugh Saddler has spent almost all of his professional life working on issues related to energy and environmental policy - as an academic, government employee and consultant.

He is the author of a book on Australian energy policy as well as over 70 scientific papers and articles and is a regular media commentator on energy and climate change policy.

About Climate Café

Climate Café is a relaxed gathering of people interested in discussing ideas and questions on climate change and related topics.   It cuts across disciplines, is inclusive, jargon-free and fun.   The approach is modelled on dialogue events such as Café Philosophic and Café Scientifique.

Climate Café is hosted by the ANU Climate Change Institute and the ANU Environment Collective.

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