This final report outlines comprehensive details of pumped hydro storage opportunities in Australia.
Report extract
Pumped hydro, batteries and demand management are leading the way to balance solar and wind electricity as Australia heads towards 80-90% renewables in 2030.
Pumped hydro energy storage has provided more than 95% of energy storage globally and is particularly well suited to longer periods of energy storage than batteries (e.g., more than eight hours). Australia currently has 1.4 Gigawatts of existing pumped hydro, and a further ca. 13 Gigawatts of pumped hydro either under construction or announced by Government, including Tumut 3, Wivenhoe, Kangaroo Valley, Snowy 2.0, Kidston, Pioneer-Burdekin, Borumba, Tasmania Battery of the Nation, and announcements by the NSW and Queensland Governments. However, none of them include new dams on rivers.