Locations proposed for Victorian hydro energy plan

MORE than 4000 viable potential sites in Victoria have been earmarked for pumped hydro energy storage — with the potential to generate as much as 11,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity.

Thousands of potential pumped hydro energy storage sites have been earmarked in Victoria. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

MORE than 4000 viable potential sites in Victoria have been earmarked for pumped hydro energy storage — with the potential to generate as much as 11,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity.

A report released today highlights 22,000 locations which could be used to support a secure and cheap national electricity grid.

The majority of Victorian sites — which avoid major residential centres and are outside national parks — are in the state’s east and northeast.

The sites have been identified as part of work being carried out by the Australian National University which is supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

The aim of the study is to develop a nationwide map of potential sites for establishing off-river pumped hydro storage.

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Thousands of potential pumped hydro energy storage sites have been earmarked in Victoria. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Pumped hydro energy storage involves pumping water uphill to a storage reservoir and releasing it through a turbine to provide additional energy into the electricity grid when it is needed.

Lead researcher Professor Andrew Blakers said the short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage sites combined had a potential storage capacity of 67,000 gigawatt-hours.

“Australia needs only a tiny fraction of these sites for pumped hydro storage — about 450 GWh of storage — to support a 100 per cent renewable electricity system,” Professor Blakers, from the ANU Research School of Engineering, said.

“We found so many good potential sites that only the best 0.1 per cent will be needed. We can afford to be choosy.”

Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said investing in renewable storage technologies, such as pumped hydro and batteries, would play a key role in securing an affordable and reliable energy network in Australia.