Snowy Hydro 2.0 not enough to replace coal from Hazelwood: Abbott

Tony Abbott says there may be too much renewable energy already as he declares the government will have to fund coal.

Tony Abbott says the government would inevitably have to fund the construction of new clean coal power stations. Picture: Kym Smith

Tony Abbott has claimed the Turnbull government’s Snowy Hydro 2.0 plan would not be enough to replace the loss of electricity supply from the closure of the Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Victoria.

The former prime minister said the government would inevitably have to fund the construction of new clean coal power stations.

Mr Abbott’s comments follow an address to the Coalition party room in which he urged that plans to adopt a Clean Energy Target be abandoned.

“We’ve got enough renewable energy in the system already … arguably we have too much,” Mr Abbott told The Australian.

“We are already slated under the RET to effectively double the amount of wind power in three years. We would be better off saying no more subsidises renewables … to graft a CET on of the RET is deeply problematic.

“The Snowy Hydro 2.0 if it takes place will scarcely replace Hazelwood. Obviously we have to keep Liddell in the system.”

Mr Abbott said it was inevitable the government would have to fund new coal.

“The government will have to do it. The same way we are doing Snowy 2.0 we will have to do a new coal fired power station,” he said.