Smart grids, energy storage and the engineering of Australia's clean-energy transition.
This series examines Australia's major energy-storage and transmission projects in engineering depth, pairing technical review with international benchmarking. Each paper proposes concrete upgrade pathways rather than simply describing the asset as built.
Each paper pairs a technical review of a major Australian energy asset with international benchmarking and concrete, quantified upgrade proposals.
Examines K2-Hydro (250 MW / 2,000 MWh), Australia's first new pumped hydro plant in 40 years, built in two former gold-mine pits in Queensland. Proposes variable-speed operation, a third unit, solar integration and AI dispatch that could lift throughput 30–40% and efficiency to 83–85%, benchmarked against Germany's Goldisthal plant.
Publication link to be verified and inserted before release.
Reviews the world's most powerful instantaneous-discharge battery (850 MW / 1,680 MWh) on the NSW Central Coast, its Tesla Megapack architecture and a 2025 transformer failure. Proposes next-generation cells, flow-battery hybridisation and AI-driven dispatch, benchmarked against California's Moss Landing facility.
Reviews the Eraring BESS, built beside Australia's largest coal plant and set to become the Southern Hemisphere's largest battery (700 MW / 3,160 MWh). Proposes capacity expansion, AI optimisation, solar co-location, grid-forming inverters and hydrogen storage, benchmarked against South Australia's Hornsdale Power Reserve.
Analyses the proposed 2 GW / 48 GWh Borumba scheme in Queensland — one of the largest long-duration storage assets under development globally — including its A$14.2 billion cost profile. Proposes ternary units and AI-based digital twins, benchmarked against Switzerland's Nant de Drance facility.
Assesses Hydro Tasmania's 750 MW / 15,000 MWh Cethana project, designed for 20-hour discharge and linked to the Marinus Link interconnector. Proposes ternary configuration and variable-speed machines, benchmarked against Luxembourg's Vianden Power Station.
Covers SunCable's AAPowerLink — a 17–20 GW solar precinct, battery storage and a 4,300 km subsea HVDC cable to Singapore. Proposes five efficiency-boosting enhancements, benchmarked against Saudi Arabia's NEOM Renewable Energy Zone.
Reviews Australia's largest energy-infrastructure project, the 2,000 MW / 350 GWh Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme, proposing a composite Enhanced Operational Model combining ternary conversion, CFD-optimised turbines, hybrid battery buffering and AI dispatch — projecting a 9.1% capacity gain and round-trip efficiency of 84–86%.
Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
— Helen Keller
Meaningful collaboration begins with a shared problem, a clear contribution from each partner and an honest method for measuring results.