Abstract
The paper reviews energy storage technologies and their applicability to
the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). The increasing gap
between maximum and minimum operational demand is likely to continue as
time-varying renewable generation penetration proceeds. Recent severe
weather events find the NEM ancillary services market for frequency and
voltage control becoming increasingly important as the mechanical system
inertia of thermal power stations reduces with the retirement of
coal-fired power stations. To maintain grid stability through innovative
technologies involving various storage technologies with different
response times and endurances, a review of existing storage technologies
for short to medium-term storage (such as flywheels, batteries, and
supercapacitors) reveals that hybrid systems with different power,
energy density, and fast response capabilities will be part of the
solution. Pumped Hydro Energy Storage, Compressed Air Energy Storage
System, hydrogen fuel cells, and fast response peaking hydrogen-fuelled
gas turbines were reviewed for long-term storage. Batteries and
Supercapacitors are assessed to be the solution for the immediate net
zero targets for 2030-2050. While many varieties of batteries exist,
metal ion batteries will continue to dominate with particular interest
growing toward sodium ion batteries. Current challenges as well as
opportunities for future research are highlighted.