Big batteries are solving a longstanding problem with solar power in California. Can they do the same for Australia?

* Solar power suffers from a duck curve problem: power peaks during the day time, but falls during mornings and evenings when people are at home.

* Large batteries, which have fallen in costs, are being used to flatten this curve in California. This ensures that more of that solar electricity is available to people outside the day time peak.

* Australia is in a great position to emulate them. Renewables supplied nearly 40% of all electricity in 2023.

* A variety of different energy storage techniques can be employed from batteries, to pumped hydro, and gravity storage using abandoned mineshafts.

* Grid scale batteries can be rapidly deployed in **just weeks**, whereas hydro can take years to build.

* Longer duration batteries (up to 8 hours) are becoming cheaper and more common. Building them near existing electricity infrastructure can maximise their benefits, further lowering costs.