AEMO releases draft of 2026 ISP

Today (Wednesday 10th December 2025) the AEMO has released the much-awaited* draft of the (upcoming 2026 iteration of the) Integrated System Plan

* amongst the broader Australian population, the release will barely rate a mention, as they will be much more focused on other things (like the social media ban for teenagers, that also is supposed to happen today).  But amongst the dedicated group of NEM stakeholders and those focused on the energy transition, it will be a point of interest.

In this article, we’ll point to what we can see elsewhere … any thoughts from us directly will have to wait for a (possible) later article …

(A)  From the AEMO

There’s a few different pieces of information, as follows:

In the Newsroom, the AEMO has published a Media Release this morning ‘AEMO publishes draft electricity roadmap for consultation’ with a title that seems blander than AEMO has used in recent times, and which notes:

‘Developed under the National Electricity Rules, the ISP presents the least-cost roadmap for generation, storage and transmission infrastructure in the National Electricity Market (NEM) to supply secure and reliable electricity, and meet government policies* to 2050.’

* I’ve highlighted the last bit of the sentence, because (in my view) it’s nice to see AEMO explicitly calling out this requirement (which was the subject of much discussion since the release of the 2024 ISP, including in those Senate hearings.

The Media Release also notes:

‘Consistent with previous reports, electricity consumption is expected to nearly double by 2050, driven by electrification of transport, expansion of data centres and industry shifting from gas to electricity. At the same time, two-thirds of the remaining coal fleet would close by 2035, in many cases earlier than publicly announced closure dates*, with all due to retire by 2049.’

* what it has to say about coal closure dates will be of keen interest to many … especially in the light of AEMO’s push for 5-year notice of closure.

This AEMO page here has included this useful timetable, which I’ve annotated:

Consultation (until Friday 13th February 2026)

As we see in the timeline above, this release heralds the start of a ‘Draft ISP Consultation’ process.

(a)  AEMO is seeking feedback on the Draft 2026 ISP and is accepting submissions until 13 February 2026.

(b)  See this ‘Draft 2026 ISP Consultation’ page on the AEMO website that explains more.

Webinar (next Tuesday 16th December 2025)

That consultation page also points to this page whereby interested stakeholders can register for a webinar next Tuesday afternoon (16th December 2025).

(B)  Media Headlines

A quick scan of the main media outlets reveals a number of articles:

1)  In the AFR what we have seen is as follows:

(a)  On page 2 of the print edition was the article ‘Coal-fired power until 2049 as energy grid costs rise to $128b’ by Angela MacDonald-Smith and Ryan Cropp:

(b)  More to come?

2)  In the Australian there have been a couple articles now:

(a)  Colin Packham and Richard Ferguson also pick up the coal angle in ‘Reality for ALP as coal will be needed until 2049, says AEMO report’.

(b)  Geoff Chambers wrote ‘Utopian forecasts pave way to net zero future’.

3)  In the Guardian:

(a)  Adam Moreton wrote ‘Australia’s energy grid must triple capacity by 2050 with major increase to wind and solar, Aemo says’.

(b)  Anything else?

4)  Via RenewEconomy:

(a)  Giles Parkinson made an early start on 8th December (prior to the official release) with ‘ISP: New grid roadmap leans towards quicker transition, but all eyes on transmission costs and options’

(b)  On the day of the release, there has been:

i.  Giles wrote ‘ISP warns of missed targets and added costs from delays, and as LNP throws coal spanner in the works’

ii.  David Leitch wrote ‘AEMO’s latest ISP plots a steady course, but private sector is running out of excuses’

5)  In the SMH/Age:

(a)  Mike Foley and Nick Toscano wrote ‘Renewables delays drive electricity cost blow out’.

6)  On ABC:

(a)  Daniel Mercer wrote ‘AEMO slashes forecasts for wind farms as falling costs fuel solar, batteries’:

7)  In PV Magazine:

(a)  David Carroll wrote ‘Renewables on rise as AEMO lays out roadmap for energy transition’.

8)  In ‘The Energy’:

(a)  Ben Potter wrote ‘ISP flags less transmission, more solar, batteries’

… no doubt there are more that I’ve not come across, yet.

(C)  Industry Organisations

Where we notice anything by the main industry organisations we’ll add references in here…

1)  Fast off the mark, the EUAA released a media release ‘ISP Highlights The Critical Role of Coordinating CER, The Potential of Distribution Networks, And The Important Role of Gas in the National Electricity Market’ that perhaps wins the title as longest I have seen for a long while.

2)  The Australian Energy Council (AEC), representing many of the energy retailers, understandably focused on affordability in ‘Transition Blueprint Highlights Need to Manage Affordability‘ ….

3)  The Energy Networks Australia (ENA) understandably focused on the network aspects in their Media Release ‘Draft ISP aims to right-size transmission and reinforces networks as the backbone of the energy transition’….

4)  The Clean Energy Council (CEC) understandably emphasized renewables in ‘AEMO’s 2026 Integrated System Plan shows renewables rollout is the least-cost pathway to a modern energy system’ ….

5)  The Smart Energy Council (SEC), consistent with the ‘speedy transition’ messaging they have used for many years now, wrote ‘Don’t slow down! The Smart Energy Council welcomes AEMO’s Draft ISP (Integrated Systems Plan)’.

6)  Have not seen anything from the Clean Energy Investor Group (CEIG)?

(D)  On social media

Where we notice anything particularly interesting on social media (and have the time) we’ll add references in here…

1)  Perhaps later….