Big Batteries Are Now Outcompeting Gas in the Grid – and Gas-Rich Western Australia Is at the Forefront

Big batteries are now outcompeting gas in the grid – and gas-rich Western Australia is at the forefront

Gas was long thought to be essential as a backup for a clean energy grid. But enormous growth in grid-scale batteries has changed the game.

Big batteries are now outcompeting gas in the grid—and gas-rich Western Australia is at the forefront

By Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University and Ray Wills, Adjunct Professor, The University of Western Australia Australia’s electricity grids are undergoing a profound transformation. Solar and wind have provided 99% of new generating capacity since 2015. Last month, renewables hit parity with fossil fuels for the first time. But there’s a lesser-known part to the story. Renewable output varies, which means they need to be …

Electricity Grids: Western Australia – Powering the Isolated West

How an islanded grid is reinventing reliability, renewables, and regional energy

Big batteries are now outcompeting gas in the grid - and gas-rich Western Australia is at the forefront

Gas was long thought to be essential as a backup for a clean energy grid. But enormous growth in grid-scale batteries has changed the game.