Originally Posted by
Asturias56
"mega pumped hydro storage" is valuable but restricted as to sites - many of the best ones are along way from the users so you incur transmission losses - and it's not much use in say the Netherlands or Denmark.
None of the back-up or storage system comes without an economic and environmental price
Not disagreeing at all, I am aware of the constraints that you mention but Twiggy Forrest seems to have a view that long distance power generation is economically viable:
https://reneweconomy.com.au/cannon-b...project-57623/
I am assuming that the underlying premise is that despite the transmission losses we have essentially unlimited space and cheap land value and ample sun in the places where it might be generated. If it turns out to be a worthwhile venture it probably says something about the viability of a smart grid connection for some of Australia's distant rural outposts in addition to urban areas. Smart grid connection will never be able to eliminate base load power requirements but it will go a long way toward balancing network demand.