How can we guarantee enough energy to meet demand?

Pumped hydro explained

Pumped hydro captures and stores excess energy when wind and solar is generating and releases it back to the grid when it’s not. This technology ensures power can be available to Queensland homes and businesses on-demand, minute-to-minute.  ​ It’s a proven way to store large amounts of energy and is the key to reliably transition Queensland to a renewable energy system.

How pumped hydro works

Pumped hydro works when excess energy generated from wind and solar is used to pump water from a lower reservoir up to a higher reservoir and stores this excess energy.

At peak times when energy is required, the water is released back downhill spinning turbines connected to generators, rapidly releasing stored power to Queensland homes and businesses when it’s needed. 

The power output produced by the wind and sun can change quickly, but fast and flexible pumped hydro has the tools to keep the energy system reliable and secure – having long-duration energy storage in the mix is the only way to reliably transition to a renewable energy system.

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