The end of coal-fired power in Australia is inevitable. But the transition away from fossil fuels in our electricity grid, which will take several decades, requires careful planning now to maintain energy security, avoid rocketing electricity prices and ensure workers remain employed, while Australia also meets its emissions targets.

And it won’t be cheap. It is estimated it will cost about $320 billion to develop, operate and maintain the generation, storage and infrastructure investments of the main electricity system to 2050.