AUSTRALIA’S chief scientist has contradicted the government’s claims that Labor’s 50 per cent ­renewables target by 2030 is “a road to ruin”.

Dr Alan Finkel will issue a major report today which shows the plan for more renewable energy sources will not lead to major blackouts despite the government’s claims that the “huge renewable target” is irresponsible and “crazy”.

The report also warns that electricity costs will continue to rise and electricity supply will become less reliable unless there is proper planning and investment in energy storage.

It’s being launched today ahead of a meeting of energy ministers in Hobart on Friday where the federal government hopes to settle an agreement on its proposed national energy guarantee with the states.

The study, commissioned by Dr Finkel and conducted by the Australian Council of Learned Academies, shows batteries in households with rooftop solar power would be enough to secure Australia’s entire energy reliability requirement by 2030, The Australian reports.

It also shows Australia would only see major power reliability issues, and would require massive investments in storage capacity to head them off, if the amount of renewables in the market rose to 75 per cent.

“Nationally and regionally, the electricity system can reach penetrations of renewable energy close to 50 per cent without significant requirements for energy reliability storage,” the report says.

Bruce Godfrey, chair of the council’s expert working group, said a major challenge would be to change consumer attitudes about batteries for home energy storage.

“This report clearly shows the two sides of the coin — that energy storage is an enormous opportunity for Australia, but there is work to be done to build consumer confidence,” he said.

“The best way to change attitudes is to increase understanding about energy storage.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday told reporters in Queensland Labor’s approach to energy was a “road to ruin.”

“It is ideology and idiocy because its incompetence, its green-left ideology and incompetence wanting a huge renewable target,” he said.

“No plan for backup. No plan for storage. Total rejection of coal in all of its forms. This is a road to ruin.”

Today, the Prime Minister doubled down on his criticism of Labor’s 50 per cent renewable energy target despite the report’s findings.

“You only have to look at South Australia to see what happens when you have a very large percentage of renewables and you don’t invest in significant storage,” he told ABC radio in Brisbane.

Mr Turnbull again dubbed Labor’s policy a combination of “ideology and idiocy”.

He pointed to advice from the new Energy Security Board, which recommended energy retailers meet a new reliability target as well as an emissions target.

Meanwhile, another new analysis has found replacing the Liddell coal power station with clean energy technologies would slash pollution and be at least $1.3 billion cheaper than the Turnbull government’s plan to extend the life of the NSW plant by five years.

Modelling by the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, commissioned for the Australian Conservation Foundation, has found a clean energy package including battery storage, solar thermal and bioenergy, would have a zero pollution outcome compared to 40 million tonnes of pollution by extending Liddell.

The foundation’s CEO Kelly O’Shanassy says keeping Liddell open beyond 2022 would be bad for the climate and Australia’s ability to achieve its Paris targets.

She says the results show Australia’s elected representatives are holding back the country.

“Australia desperately needs a comprehensive climate change policy that will facilitate the rapid transition to a clean energy future,” Ms O’Shanassy said.