How do we store renewable energy when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow? Hydro is how.
Proven technology.
Pumped hydro energy storage has been used in electricity systems around the world for over a century. It’s a proven and reliable way to store large amounts of energy. This will be the key to quickly and efficiently transitioning Queensland to a renewable energy system.
At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28, 130+ countries committed to tripling renewable energy generating capacity by 2030, signalling a global movement to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Investing in cost-effective, reliable and scalable renewable energy sources will be critical to achieving these targets. According to the International Hydropower Association (IHA), hydropower provided over 15 per cent of the world’s electricity and generated 60 per cent of all renewable electricity in 2023. But its function as a long-duration energy storage system is key.
With over a century of technical and operational development, pumped hydro provides a tried and tested solution that can easily be integrated into the Australian energy system.
How pumped hydro energy storage works.
Pumped hydro captures and stores excess energy when wind and solar is generating and releases it back to the grid when it’s not. So during the day when renewable energy generation exceeds demand – like on a sunny or windy day – the excess energy is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to an upper reservoir where it’s stored for later use. Then, when the sun sets and energy demand peaks, pumped hydro can supplement wind energy to make sure demand is satisfied.
As we transition to an energy system that’s fuelled by renewable energy, we need fast and reliable energy storage. And one of the benefits of pumped hydro is that it can recycle the same water over and over, using any available energy to pump when demand for energy is low, and generating levels are high.
Supply and demand.
On days when the wind doesn’t blow, it’s not very sunny or at night, the supply of renewable energy can be impacted – that’s where pumped hydro fills the generation gaps. Pumped hydro energy storage works like a big battery to store excess energy generated by solar and wind (often during the day when demand is low), so it can be released into the grid when Queensland homes and businesses need it most. At night or when there’s a peak in energy demand, pumped hydro energy storage provides the back up for solar, wind and other forms of renewable energy to guarantee the reliable, always-on, electricity we depend on. It’s a natural, clean and sustainable solution that ensures energy dependability.
If we’re going to transform our state’s energy system and create a better world for generations to come, large-scale pumped hydro energy storage isn’t a ‘nice to have’, it’s a must have to deliver a stable electricity supply for all Queenslanders.
We invite you to share your views on pumped hydro and why it’s important for Queensland’s clean energy future. Your opinion is crucial to shape the conversation around this topic. Let us know what you think by taking our short survey.
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