Energy Insiders - a RenewEconomy Podcast Malcolm Turnbull on hydro, LNP, One Nation and Trump
Feb 6, 2026
Malcolm Turnbull, former Australian prime minister and president of the International Hydropower Association, champions pumped hydro as long-duration, sovereign storage. He contrasts batteries with multi-day storage needs. He critiques party politics, warns about geopolitics and submarine risks, and pushes for energy independence and careful tech choices.
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Pumped Hydro Dominates Long Duration Storage
- Pumped hydro is the most cost-effective option for long-duration storage beyond 10–24 hours.
- It also provides century-plus lifetimes and sovereignty benefits compared with chemical batteries.
Set Policy To Deliver Pumped Hydro
- Governments should decide how much pumped hydro they want and use policy to ensure it gets built.
- Private developers need recognition for long lives and policies that address large upfront geotechnical and civil costs.
Global Pumped Hydro Momentum
- Global pumped storage growth is accelerating, led by China and rising pipelines in Europe and the US.
- China aims to exceed 120 GW of pumped storage capacity by 2030, showing international momentum.
