Why gas?

Gas-fired power provides firm, dispatchable energy—meaning it can be turned on or ramped up quickly when demand spikes or when renewable sources like wind and solar aren't generating (e.g., at night or during calm, cloudy weather). This helps maintain grid reliability during the transition period when renewables and storage are still scaling up.

While renewables are growing rapidly, they are variable by nature. Gas is a flexible "partner" to renewables—it can fill gaps in generation and balance solar and wind energy.

As ageing coal-fired power stations retire, Australia needs replacement capacity to keep the lights on. Gas can serve as a transitional solution while renewableenabling technologies like batteries, and pumped hydro mature and scale.

Industrial processes and peak electricity demand (such as hot summer evenings) often require power that is both firm and scalable. Gas-fired plants can meet these needs without long lead times or massive infrastructure upgrades.

Gas provides critical backup during grid emergencies, extreme weather events, or unexpected outages—making it an important insurance policy for a stable, reliable energy system.