Australia’s AEMO Draft 2026 ISP: Coal Until 2049 as $128b Grid Overhaul Backs Solar and Batteries
Australia’s energy market operator has released a sweeping new roadmap for the electricity grid that locks in coal-fired power plants until 2049, even as it doubles down on massive new investment in solar, batteries and transmission to hit net zero targets. On 10 December 2025, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) published its Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) – a 25‑year blueprint for the National Electricity Market (NEM) that will shape how homes and businesses are powered through to mid‑century.AEMO+ 1 The draft plan recalibrates Australia’s transition in several striking ways: Below is a detailed breakdown of what changed,