Australian Energy Storage Box

Which energy storage technology is best for Australia's energy needs?

The CEC said emerging LDES technologies coupled with the energy storage systems in place, would be the best suite to appropriately manage Australia’s needs. In March this year, the ARENA held an Insights Forum which covered energy storage and technologies that can bring system security to the grid.

What is the energy storage project?

Delivered as a partnership between Australia’s Chief Scientist and ACOLA, the Energy Storage project studies the transformative role that energy storage may play in Australia’s energy systems; future economic opportunities and challenges; and current state of and future trends in energy storage technologies and their underpinning sciences.

Can energy storage help Australia transition to a low-carbon economy?

The project examines the scientific, technological, economic and social aspects of the role that energy storage can play in Australia’s transition to a low-carbon economy over the coming decade and beyond. “Given our natural resources and our technical expertise, energy storage could represent a major new export industry for our nation”

Why do we need underground energy storage?

To balance energy use across the Australian economy, heat and fuel (chemical energy) storage are also required. Underground storage of compressed hydrogen or compressed air can deliver backup and firming supply, account for seasonal changes in load and provide strategic reserves of energy to call on if there is a risk of system outage.

Will Australia need a carbon-heavy energy system to support VRE?

It could potentially mean Australia would need to keep carbon-heavy technologies to provide stable energy to support VRE. Current LDES technology is a potential solution for Australia’s clean energy transition because of its ability to discharge energy continuously for eight hours or longer.

How much storage will the NEM need in 2034-35?

In total, the NEM is forecast to need 36 GW/522 GWh of storage capacity in 2034-35, rising to 56 GW/660 GWh of storage capacity in 2049/50. The broad categories of storage needed are: Consumer owned storage: behind the meter, including EVs that may be able to send electricity back into the grid.