Australia's coal-fired power stations 'will need to shut at rate of one a year', hearing told

'Equivalent of a Hazelwood a year' will need to close by early 2030s to meet Paris targets, witnesses tell Senate inquiry

Coal-fired power stations in Australia will need to shut at the rate of about one a year between now and the mid-2030s for the country to meet the commitments made in Paris, a Senate hearing has been told.

Witnesses also told the hearing that since Australia's coal-fired power stations are now very old - mostly built in the 1970s and 80s - they would be shutting in the coming decades regardless of climate policy, further highlighting the need for a transition plan.