Renewable energy storage needed to avoid bumpy energy transition

Renewable energy droughts are periods when adverse weather such as cloudy days limits electricity generation from rooftop solar. Traditional generation such as coal would be used to fill the void but with more and more generators retiring, the cost of fossil fuel generation is rising and expected to rise further.Batteries can be used to dispatch electricity to compensate, and Mr Grimes said policy changes to ensure that developers have certainty that assets will be used will incentivise developers to approve significant outlays.The Energy Market Operator has estimated Australia will need 18 GW of renewable energy storage to achieve 82 per cent renewables by 2030, and Mr Grimes said there 3 or 4 GW already in the system.Investment was needed years agoA rapid uptick in batteries is the solution, but prohibitively high costs have limited many households and business from installing…

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