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I wouldn't write off vanadium redox batteries just yet since while their performance is unspectacular at least they have been fully tested unlike these graphite blocks. No doubt a discussion will emerge on electrochemical vs stored heat vs phase shift chemical with no clear winner. End result burn more coal.
Re which if the King Island scheelite (tungsten) mine is re-opened I believe neither batteries nor hot blocks will get a look in. An underwater alternating current cable will probably send grid power to the island. In turn that grid will be partly supplied via Basslink HVDC cable. End result burn more coal.
King Island is in a great location to harness both wave and ocean current energy (as well as the copious wind) and there seems to be action on that front too.
With some solar and good energy storage, they may yet become the first fully renewable locale in Oz.
I'm glad they are trying graphite as well as the flow batteries - it will be good to see a like for like comparison.
I was discussing King Island with an ASPO colleague a few days ago. It'd be great to see them set a target to become Australia's first 100% renewable locale. When people see what can be done, they can envisage it being done on larger scale. King Island today, Tasmania tomorrow, then we'll takeover the whole globe!
Yep - start at the disconnected pieces, then move to the ends of the grid (places like Cloncurry) and slowly move inwards until everything has renewables backed by large scale storage and then we can just switch the coal fired stuff off.
I like the way that some of these out of the way places are prepared to experiment in order to rid themselves of diesel generators.