Part of our energy future

An abundant supply of cheap energy has been a key factor in the continued competitiveness of the NSW economy. NSW electricity prices for consumers and businesses are among the lowest in the world, thanks to our world-competitive coal industry which supplies more than 90 per cent of the states electricity.

More than two-thirds of the demand for electricity in NSW comes from the business sector. Projected demand is estimated to require a 50 per cent increase in supply by 2030, and an even greater increase if the state introduces large-scale water desalination plants. 

The way forward

Supplying energy on this scale is limited to very few technologies and is beyond the capacity of existing renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels including coal will therefore remain important to NSW as a generator of energy, export income, employment and investment.

The NSW minerals industry recognises that strategies to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions will need to be integeral to this development through greater end-use efficiency; increased use of lower crabon fuels; increased use of alternative technologies where most practical; greater use of renewables; and a strong commitment to research and development.

Coal21 is a major initiative supported by the NSW minerals industry to address these objectives. The industry also supports initiatives to explore ways to   

• retrofit existing power stations to capture and store their emissions effectively and efficiently 
• cut the costs of carbon dioxide capture and storage
• store carbon dioxide in this state
• facilitate the introduction of a new clean coal power generation technology to meet a large part of the next tranche of power station development.