Are hybrid energy systems the future for industry?

Hybrid energy systems stand to benefit a wide range of industries and applications, according to CSIRO Fellow Dr Sukhvinder Badwal.

Speaking ahead of his address to All-Energy Australia at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 7–8 October, Dr Badwal said hybrid systems had "many advantages above and beyond cost".

"There is general consensus in the public that we need to move towards cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions — we just need to agree on the best mechanism to do it," said Dr Badwal.

"Most industrial parties are seeking a solution to their particular energy issues — this inevitably has an element of hybridisation to fully and cost-effectively meet their needs."

He said new battery chemistries, compressed air, fuel cells and hydrogen, hydrogen enriched natural gas and super-capacitors are among the new technologies showing promise.

"Clearly, most headlines are for the large-format lithium batteries, but there are a wide range of other technologies showing promise for a range of different applications," said Dr Badwal.

"Hybrid energy systems offer tailored and substantial improvements in performance, response time, load following capability and cost reduction over individual technologies. If penetration of renewable energy is to increase, then grid stability issues and cost-effectiveness need to be addressed.

"The challenge is finding the right solution for the application, which is where energy storage is expected to play a much greater role."

Addressing this challenge is part of Dr Badwal's role at CSIRO's newly established Centre for Hybrid Energy Systems, which is expected to open later this year.

Dr Badwal will present at the Hybrid Energy Systems: Hybridisation of renewable energy systems session during the All-Energy Australia Conference this October.

CSIRO Fellow Dr Sukhvinder Badwal is a world-renowned solid-state electrochemist with more than 35 years' research experience in fuel cells, membrane technologies, gas sensors and renewable energy systems using hydrogen.