This report analyses the performance of the 1,450 MW Yallourn Power Station in Victoria between 2012 to 2024. The case study is part of a series which examines the reliability and performance of coal-fired power stations across the National Electricity Market (NEM) as they approach the end of their technical lives. It finds that Yallourn has high downtime and frequent unplanned outages, and contributes to approximately 12 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

Recommendations

1. Commit to the on-time closure of Yallourn in 2028.
2. Maintain the current rate of renewable energy development and deliver the approved wind and solar projects, and large-scale battery projects currently in the pipeline.
3. Accelerate near-term approvals to fast-track Victoria’s energy transition.
4. Look beyond the Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) and encourage innovative, market-led intra-regional transmission and storage projects.
5. Leverage the significant untapped potential of Consumer Energy Resources (CER) to strengthen system reliability and directly reduce consumer energy bills.