The role for brown coal

Accessibility

At between six and 180 metres deep, the Latrobe Valley‟s brown coal resources are easily accessible via open-cut mining. This accessibility, coupled with the abundance of the resource, makes brown coal an affordable energy source. Until renewable and alternative energy sources become more affordable and reliable, brown coal will continue to be Victoria‟s cheapest, most abundant, and most established baseload energy source.

Baseload

Today, brown coal is a power station fuel source that can reliably generate baseload power (a stable and continuous supply of energy that can meet Victoria‟s minimum power needs at all times). Hydroelectric, black coal, gas, and nuclear are other examples of fuel sources that can meet baseload power needs. Until other fuel sources and technologies can generate a similarly priced, quantity, and stable supply of baseload power, brown coal will remain Victoria‟s main source for baseload energy.

Transition to alternative energy sources

Brown coal is a finite resource, and as it is currently used, is not the most efficient energy source we have, nor can we continue to use it forever; but it is currently our most economic and abundant energy source. That is why brown coal will likely remain a primary feature of Victoria‟s energy supply, until renewable energy, or cleaner methods of energy production can take its place. More efficient methods of generating electricity from brown coal will also support a transition to newer, lower emission technologies, as generators, governments and the community manage the transition together.