From Governments agencies and market bodies shaping Australia’s energy policy to world-leading University laboratories developing next-generation storage technologies, the LDES Council’s Australia Roadshow offered a unique opportunity to examine one of the world’s most dynamic markets for long duration energy storage (LDES). Shubhra Thakur, Director for Policy & Markets APAC at LDES Council, takes stock of the five lessons learned and implications for Australia’s energy market.

Held from 27–31 July 2026, the Australia Roadshow brought an international delegation of LDES Council members to Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney for five days of high-level engagement with governments, market operators, researchers, investors and industry leaders.  

The programme combined policy discussions with agencies including the Invest Victoria, Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the New South Wales Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW DCCEEW), the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), AEMO Services Ltd (ASL) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), alongside engagement with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), visits to leading research facilities at Deakin University and a flagship forum co-hosted with University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE). 

Across every discussion, one question remained central: what will it take to accelerate the commercial deployment of LDES in Australia? As Australia works towards 82% renewable electricity by 2030 and prepares for the retirement of much of its coal-fired generation over the coming decade, the Australia Roadshow highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges ahead. Five key lessons emerged. 

Australia is already planning beyond today’s storage targets 

Meetings with the Victorian Government, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and ASL revealed that Australia’s planning horizon has already moved beyond existing procurement targets. 

Australian governments increasingly view LDES as critical infrastructure for the future electricity system. In Melbourne, discussions with DEECA, the State Electricity Commission, and Invest Victoria explored how the state is strengthening the policy and investment frameworks needed to deliver its target of 6.3 GW of storage by 2035 as well as bring new LDES projects as electrification demand increases. Victoria is well positioned as a hub for advanced manufacturing and industrial decarbonisation. 

Australian DCCEEW recognises LDES as the holy grail of the energy transition, which presents an important policy opportunity for Australia: to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to storage and design frameworks that recognise the different maturity, lead times and system value of LDES technologies. This is a direction LDES Council hopes is reflected adequately in the upcoming Electricity Services Entry Mechanism (ESEM). 

Conversations with NSW DCCEEW and ASL uncovered how planning has already progressed beyond current commitments. With more than 2 GW of eight-hour-plus LDES already contracted through the state’s Long-Term Energy Service Agreement (LTESA) framework, attention is now turning to the storage Australia will require beyond 2030. 

 Market design will determine the pace of commercial deployment 

Discussions with DCCEEW, CSIRO, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), ARENA and ASL reinforced that technology readiness alone will not deliver commercial deployment at scale. 

Across meetings in Canberra and Sydney, the focus shifted on the importance of market frameworks that recognise the full value LDES provides to the electricity system. 

Reforms including the proposed Electricity Services Entry Mechanism (ESEM), the role of LTESAs in providing long-term revenue certainty for projects, integrating thermal energy storage into energy and industrial decarbonisation plans capturing its system benefits and procurement frameworks will enable multiple storage technologies to compete based on the different system services they provide. 

A consistent theme that emerged throughout the week is that as Australia’s electricity system evolves, market design must evolve with it. LDES supports far more than energy shifting, contributing to renewable integration, resource adequacy, network resilience and overall system flexibility. Recognising that broader value will be essential to accelerating investment. 

Research and industry partnerships are accelerating innovation 

Visits to Deakin University’s Battery Research and Innovation Hub, UNSW’s Energy Storage Laboratories and the LDES Council-UNSW Forum demonstrated how collaboration between research, industry and government is helping bridge the gap between innovation and commercial deployment. 

Some of the Australia Roadshow’s most valuable insights came from seeing Australia’s research ecosystem first-hand. 

At Deakin University, the LDES Council delegation explored how researchers are improving battery performance, safety and sustainability while working closely with industry to accelerate commercialisation. At UNSW, laboratory visits showcased the university’s work on next-generation energy storage technologies and reinforced the role research institutions play in supporting Australia’s clean energy transition and system strength. 

These themes continued during the LDES Council–UNSW Forum, where researchers, policymakers, investors, technology developers and industry leaders discussed the technology, markets and policies needed to accelerate deployment. 

The conversations made clear that commercial success will depend on technological innovation just as much as on strong partnerships that connect research, policy and industry. 

Technology diversity will strengthen Australia’s future energy system 

Meetings across the Australia Roadshow consistently highlighted that Australia’s future electricity system will require a diverse portfolio of long duration energy storage technologies. 

From discussions with government agencies and market bodies to conversations with researchers and industry, what emerged is that no single storage technology will meet every future system need. 

Technology-neutral procurement frameworks that encourage multiple LDES technologies to apply will be critical as Australia manages increasing renewable generation, changing electricity demand and the growing need for system flexibility. 

For the LDES Council delegation – Antora Energy, Energy Vault, Rongke Power, Rondo Energy and Sumitomo SHI FW – the Australia Roadshow reinforced the importance of maintaining an innovation ecosystem that allows different technologies to contribute where they deliver the greatest value. 

Implications for Australia’s energy transition 

Looking across every engagement throughout the Australia Roadshow, it is clear that Australia is building many of the foundations needed to accelerate long duration energy storage deployment. 

Governments are developing long-term deployment pathways. Regulators are evloving market rules and market operators are considering to bring in mechanisms that realise whole of a system approachResearch institutions are advancing new technologies, while industry is preparing to deliver projects at commercial scale. 

The next challenges will be to continue aligning policy, market design, research and investment so deployment can keep pace with Australia’s energy transition. 

For the LDES Council delegation, the Australia Roadshow demonstrated that Australia is emerging as one of the world’s leading markets for LDES and offers valuable lessons for other countries seeking to build reliable, affordable and resilient renewable electricity systems. 

2026 Australia Roadshow Delegation

Antora Energy  ·  Energy Vault ·  Rongke Power · Rondo Energy · Sumitomo SHI FW

About the Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDES Council)  

The Long Duration Energy Storage Council is a global organisation dedicated to advancing decarbonisation by accelerating the deployment of LDES solutions. The LDES Council provides fact-based guidance on LDES technologies, which include mechanical, thermal, electrochemical, and chemical solutions. With members operating in 20 countries, the LDES Council is committed to unlocking the full potential of LDES to ensure a resilient, reliable, and secure energy future for all.  

To learn more about the LDES Council, visit www.ldescouncil.com