The ANU has identified over 22,000 sites for pumped hydro storage around the country. I would think they should be looking at sites on the mainland as that is where 99% of our population lives.
"The additional data shows that NSW has the most prospective locations in the country, with about 8500 identified by the ANU team led by Professor Andrew Blakers. Victoria had about 4400 sites, placing it second among the states.
Australia would only require a tiny fraction of these sites - for about 450 gigawatt-hours worth of storage - to underpin a 100 per cent renewable electricity system, Professor Blakers said in a statement.
"Fast tracking the development of a few of the best sites by 2022 could balance the grid when Liddell and other coal power stations close," he said, referring to the 1680-megawatt coal-fired power plant the federal government is trying to strong-arm AGL Energy to keep open five years beyond the 2022 scheduled close.
"We found so many good potential sites that only the best 0.1 per cent will be needed," he said. "We can afford to be choosy."
