Australia may face a lack of electricity supply this decade unless a new generation is brought in to offset the exit of ageing coal plants, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has said. In 2028, Victoria will see its 53-year-old Yallourn coal plant retire, taking with it 1,480 megawatts (MW) of power that currently provides electricity to 22 percent of the state’s residents and businesses. And by 2032, New South Wales’ 50-year-old Eraring power station—supplying 2,922 MW and meeting 25 percent of the state’s energy needs—will shut down. The AEMO’s 2021-2031 energy reliability report (pdf) outlined that supply concerns could be exacerbated by energy demand which could “increase a lot, very quickly.” The report pointed out that ongoing “electrification” would amplify energy demand as more home appliances, heating, vehicles, and major manufacturing processes switched to electric variants. Furthermore, hydrogen—a pillar in the government’s technology investment roadmap—has been heralded as a …