Tuesday 6 September, forum at UNSW Canberra and online from 9.20 am, media welcome
Campaign calls for a national target and policy settings to ensure that Australia can secure 18 GW of renewable energy storage across the country and achieve 82% of energy supply from renewables by 2030.
Today, we have 3.4GW of storage capacity available in the energy grid. There's a massive 47GW of storage proposed by utilities across the country. If we could fast track the proposed storage, then we can secure 24-hour renewable energy AND stop price spikes.
Ensuring there's a vision and strategy in place to support ongoing investment in energy storage will be essential for success. Renewables industry body the Smart Energy Council has joined forces with Better Futures Australia, an alliance of business and community leaders representing more than 7 million Australians, to call for much needed strategic investment in renewable energy storage.
"Renewable energy storage is the key to 24-hour power in the 21st Century," said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Smart Energy Council.
"Whether it's a home solar battery or a battery on wheels via an electric vehicle, a Big Battery project or pumped hydro, renewable energy storage will be the lifeblood of the energy grid of the future, delivering energy security and lower power bills.
"Australia is in the middle of the fastest energy transition we have ever seen, with at least five coal generators closing by the end of the decade. We can't afford to waste time if we are to manage our way through intermittent energy crises over the next few years."
"We need to get serious about energy storage and act now. That means a Federal Renewable Energy Storage Target and a range of other mechanisms to encourage investment in zero emissions storage."
"The Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility must prioritise renewable energy storage and the Commonwealth government must begin work today to really unleash renewable energy storage.
The Unleashing Renewable Energy Storage Campaign will be launched at the Better Futures Forum at UNSW Canberra today. Speakers include:
- Andrew Barr, ACT Chief Minister – Keynote and panel
- John Grimes, Chief Executive, Smart Energy Council
- Lara Panjkov, Fluence Energy
- Ric Brazzale, Green Energy Markets
- Francis Wedin, Vulcan Energy Resources
- Luke Osborne, Stride Renewables.
