Energy Storage for the Australian National Electricity Market Grid

The paper discusses the energy storage needs for the Australian National Electricity Market grid, based on the analysis of the power generation, wind and solar energy facilities and solar rooftop, and the grid demand. It is concluded that significant energy storage, for both powers of storing or delivering energy, and time this power can be stored or released, is needed. While pumped hydro energy storage from retrofitting of existing hydroelectric facilities may certainly provide a rapid short term growth of energy storage, additional expansions are difficult, and battery storage, that is challenging for sustainability, economic and environmental issues, must be considered.