We offer a cross section of the numerous challenges andopportunities associated with the integration of large-scale batterystorage of renewable energy for the electric grid. Thesechallenges range beyond scientific and technical issues, topolicy issues, and even social challenges associated withthe transition to a more sustainable energylandscape.

The commissioning on 1 December 2017 of the Tesla-Neoen 100 MWlithium-ion grid support battery at Neoen’s Hornsdale wind farm inSouth Australia, at the time the world’s largest, has focused theattention of policy makers and energy professionals on the broaderprospects for renewable energy storage. An adequate and resilientinfrastructure for large-scale grid scale and grid-edge renewableenergy storage for electricity production and delivery, eitherlocalized or distributed, is a crucial requirement for transitioningto complete reliance on environmentally protective human energysystems. Its realization will require a strong synergy betweentechnological advances in variable renewable energy storage and thegovernance policies that promote and support them. We examine howexisting regulations and governance policies focusing on large-scalebatteries have responded to this challenge around the world. Weoffer suggestions for potential regulatory and governance reform toencourage investment in large-scale battery storage infrastructurefor renewable energy, enhance the strengths, and mitigate risks andweaknesses of battery systems, including facilitating thedevelopment of alternatives such as hybrid systems and eventuallythe uptake of hydrogen fuel and storage.