Securing our energy future: Practical considerations of the Finkel Report

The release of Dr Alan Finkel's Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market (Report) marks a climax in the on-going discussion surrounding Australia's energy future.

The Report is a blueprint for the government, offering a clear pathway for energy policy. The task was (and still is) a complex one.

In the context of a country which is trying to balance;

• climate change and the global shift to renewables;
• reliability and security of energy sources; and
• the cost of energy to consumers,

the Report looks to provide a clear and focussed way forward.

The recommendations are currently being considered by Commonwealth and State governments and will require a level of cooperation from all parties if there is to be any real benefit. Let's take a brief look at some of its key recommendations before posing some practical questions (and one or two suggestions) about its implementation.