Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast The tipping point in solar and battery storage
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Mar 21, 2025 David Scaysbrook from Quinbrook Infrastructure discusses the pivotal fall in costs for solar and battery storage, marking a tipping point in the energy sector. He highlights groundbreaking projects like Sun Cable and innovations in battery technologies, including the shift to lithium iron phosphate. Scaysbrook delves into Queensland's potential as a green industrial hub and the need for massive investments to harness its resources sustainably. He also explores the evolving roles of gas and hydrogen amidst rising energy costs, positioning renewables at the forefront of future energy solutions.
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Battery Costs and Quality
- Battery costs have decreased significantly, while energy density per container has improved.
- Consider quality, reliability, and manufacturer strength when comparing battery options, similar to solar panels.
Quinbrook's Battery Storage Journey
- Quinbrook's longer-duration storage journey began in 2019 with the Gemini project in Nevada, similar to outback Queensland and the Northern Territory.
- They collaborated with CATL on liquid cooling due to high desert temperatures and designed a 4-hour DC-coupled battery charged by solar.
Changing Energy Landscape
- Falling solar and battery costs are changing the energy game, as seen with Rio Tinto's solar and battery contract.
- This shift challenges previous assumptions about energy solutions.