Former Nuclear Chief Says Australia’s 20-Year Renewable Energy Plan a ‘Work of Fiction’

‘It’s really important to understand that the capacity factor of solar in South Australia is 19.7 percent during the winter. That’s one day in five.’

Wind turbines and solar panels are seen near Cagliari, Italy, on Oct. 2, 2024. Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images

A parliamentary committee has been told that the latest Integrated System Plan (ISP)—that incorporates renewables—and is supposed to underpin Australia’s energy grid for the next 20 years is a “work of fiction.”

At an inquiry hearing, former Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation CEO Adrian Paterson raised concerns about the feasibility of the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) plan.