Australia’s top science agency, the CSIRO, has just released a Roadmap showing we could need 10 to 14 times more energy storage capacity in the National Electricity Market by 2050.
Its a big topic & the Renewable Energy Storage Roadmap tapped feedback from 50 industry organisations as well as all levels of government. It’s had a warm welcome as a result.
It’s a timely read for the mining sector in general and the copper industry in particular I think. Not only because many of the recommendations will rely on metals like copper, but because we need to be part of the discussion.
Collaboration & investment are the key messages. But so are the challenges. The Roadmap says some of them include insufficient technology capabilities here, limited policy & regulations to spur innovation, and boosting remote storage and particularly cutting mining emissions via long term storage.
The Roadmap says we need a pipeline of projects using diverse technologies, but especially in things like batteries, thermal processes, pumped hydro energy storage and green hydrogen storage.
The Feds have zeroed in on backing local battery manufacturing, saying that sector has the potential to be worth nearly $17B with 61,000 new jobs by 2030.
Another key message is that storage also supports the energy transition for industries that face major difficulties to decarbonise, suggesting hydrogen & thermal storage could offer new approaches to lower emissions.
ICAA kick started a collaborative approach on zero net mining 3 years ago and the 3 studies—ok roadmaps—since dovetail with the CSIRO report. It’s definitely looking like a supercharged future to me.
Cheers, John Fennell
