A large proportion of coal power stations in Australia are approaching an age when retirement becomes necessary. There are currently 15 operational coal-fired power stations across the National Electricity Market (NEM), with a total capacity of 21 gigawatts (GW) and an average unit age of 38 years. They are all scheduled to exit the system by 2051 per announced closure dates, or by 2040 per the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)’s Step Change scenario.