PM told to let Defence review green energy plans to protect nation

Batteries and other technologies aren’t enough to cope with an overload of weather and time-dependent power sources like wind and solar, ex-ANSTO chief warns prime minister

Wind turbines near Goulburn in southern NSW.

Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has been warned that Australia’s national security will be at risk if the nation continues to put more intermittent wind and solar power into the grid while ignoring low carbon, “always-on” technologies like nuclear power.

In a letter to Mr Albanese seen by The Daily Telegraph, former ANSTO (Australian Nuclear Science and Tecnology Organosation) CEO Dr Adi Paterson also calls on the prime minister to appoint defence chief Angus Campbell to review the government’s energy plans due to the risk that “terrorists and adversaries” will take advantage of the planned grid’s lack of “resilience and robustness”.

“Massive grid extension, the predominance of solar and wind generation, and the prospects of extensive use of batteries has significant known risks,” Dr Paterson writes.

“The resilience and protection of critical infrastructure in a time of conflict will be much diminished.”

As a result, he says, “terrorists and adversaries will have greatly-enhanced opportunities for electric power disruptions and consequential loss of freshwater supply, sewage treatment, urban and regional transport, secure hospital and emergency services power and failed industries.”

Former CEO of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Adi Paterson.

Dr Paterson’s letter also warns that while “firm, low carbon dispatchable power” is the future, “overbuild of weather and daylight-dependent power generation (wind and solar) make our electricity transmission weak, brittle, vulnerable and insecure in every sense.”

According to Dr Paterson, both Liberal and Labor governments have failed to learn the lessons of countries like Germany, where a failed energy transition led the country to shut down its nuclear power plants only to have to restart coal fired generators.

The Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell AO DSC has been suggested as a suitable candidate to review Australia’s energy plans. Picture: Supplied

“Today German electricity supply, as it reinvests in brown coal, frequently has similar CO2-intensity to NSW. South Australia, when the wind drops overnight and into winter mornings, is no different.

“This failed low-carbon pathway is imperilling Australian industry and undermining the economy.“

“Will we learn from the German intransigence that has damaged energy and security settings from Central and Eastern Europe to Central Asia? The consequential effects are global.”

However, Dr Paterson says there is a way through.

Aerial image of AGL Energy's Broken Hill Solar Farm in NSW. SUPPLIED/AGL

“We can achieve reliability, robustness, and resilience, with nuclear power, hydro where practical, and up to 20%-40% of dilute, non-dispatchable sources,” he says.

Mr Albanese has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as PM told to let Defence review green energy plans to protect nation