Targeted reform of Australia's outdated electricity market - rather than long-term public funding - is the key to unlocking the full benefits from energy storage technology as the country shifts to renewable energy, according to a policy paper released today by the industry's peak body.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton said energy storage technologies have a critical role to play in the development of an affordable, clean and secure energy system.

"There remains substantial work to do in modernising Australia's energy rules and allowing energy storage to fully participate in the market, bringing the benefits of the technology to both the grid and consumers more broadly," Mr Thornton said.

"Australia currently lacks a strategic package of energy market reforms that will help to turbo-charge energy storage and tear down the barriers that stand in the way to its wider use around the country.

"While there is a role for government funding at the moment to help with the cost reduction and establishment of the energy storage industry, strategic reform and regulation is the most efficient way to encourage more widespread use of the technology over the long term."

The newly-released policy paper, Charging Forward: Policy and regulatory reforms to unlock the potential of energy storage in Australia, outlines a package of targeted reforms to support the increased roll out of energy storage projects at residential, commercial and grid scales.

"Energy storage is the last major puzzle piece of an evolved energy system. It can complement more variable sources of generation, like wind and solar power, while also providing services that bolster the resilience of the system. It also lightens the load during peak demand, reducing the need for expensive network investment and augmentation," Mr Thornton said.

"Rising electricity costs, changing tariff structures and rapidly reducing technology costs have combined to create the ideal conditions for greater adoption of 'behind the meter' storage and solar technologies. These new products can make a contribution to the electricity market and reduce costs for all consumers.

"Energy storage costs - especially battery storage - are falling. There is huge potential for these technologies to change the way customers and retailers interact with the grid. However, a combination of market reform, incentives and regulatory change is needed to drive this transition, while ensuring a secure and affordable power system," he said.

The policy paper recommends 13 reforms across four categories to achieve this, ranging from removing regulatory barriers and rewarding the value of storage behind the meter, to protecting consumers and changes that would allow storage to support grid security through its fast frequency response capability.

The policy paper Charging Forward: Policy and regulatory reforms to unlock the potential of energy storage in Australia can be downloaded from the Clean Energy Council website.

Tweet

Trojan team to install critical off grid battery station in Nicaragua
Santa Fe Springs, CA (SPX) May 26, 2017
Trojan Battery has announced a team of Trojan employees have embarked on a volunteer trip to Nicaragua with the GRID Alternatives International Program to install a solar system that will provide power to a remote village. A team of 10 Trojan volunteers which includes employees from Trojan Battery's California and Georgia facilities left on Sun., May 21 to help install a solar power system ... read more

Related Links
Clean Energy Council
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only