For energy security, the failing Liddell coal plant is the last thing we need | Ben Oquist

Confusion reigns over whether the government will, or can, keep the ageing power station going. But there's a much better way to ensure grid reliability

Coal fails in the heat. And so it did on 10 February 2017, as the heatwave that sparked South Australia's blackout rolled across into NSW and emergency load-shedding was required in Australia's biggest state. The Liddell power station failed to perform and could only operate at below half-capacity. In fact, throughout 2016-17 the 45-year-old power station's average capacity was only 54%. It almost never operates at peak performance.

To increase grid reliability, the last thing you would want to do is rely upon an underperforming, old power station prone to failure during heatwaves.