Challenge Statement
The Long Game invites innovators to put forward innovative, commercially feasible long duration energy storage solutions spanning from 10+ hours through to seasonal storage. These solutions will reflect technical excellence and articulate a clear path to real-world deployment.
We’re looking for ideas tackling WA-specific challenges such as:
- Energy intensive industries
- Industrial clusters and hard-to-abate activities
- Digital infrastructure and data centres
- Remote and regional microgrids
- Stabilising regional communities
- Remote and mobile operations
- Grid flexibility
- Underpinning a low carbon SWIS, and
- Digital enablers of battery business models.
This is a unique opportunity to pilot your solution in real-world conditions, gain exposure to leading energy funders and access tailored support to help scale your technology for deployment.
Selected solution providers will:
- Showcase their innovation to key investors and energy agencies
- Trial their solutions with industry partners operating across WA
- Receive targeted support through an acceleration program that includes technical validation, market readiness assistance, and pathways to scale.
Submissions will be assessed on:
- Relevance to WA use cases, including high temperatures, remoteness and rugged operational environments.
- Innovation and differentiation, including the unique IP proposed in the solution and the potential to compete with incumbent technologies
- Technical viability and deployment readiness including the solution’s feasibility, technical performance and maturity
- Team capability and execution including technical, commercial and deployment expertise
- Scalability, integration and export potential including the potential to scale beyond WA, integrate with current systems and software, and align with relevant standards.
Western Australia requires commercially viable LDES technologies capable of delivering 10 hours to seasonal storage. These solutions are critical to improving energy reliability, resilience, and enabling a just transition, particularly in remote, industrial, and off-grid settings.
Globally, long-duration storage technologies like pumped hydro, power-to-gas, or large-scale thermal systems have shown promise. However, many are tied to specific geographies or system configurations and are not easily transferred to WA’s context. The State’s energy landscape is shaped by long distances, climate extremes, limited transmission, and demanding industrial operations.
That’s why The Long Game seeks innovations that perform reliably over multiple days, are economically viable and are tailored for WA’s unique technical, economic and environmental conditions.
This challenge is designed to identify and accelerate the next generation of energy storage technologies and business models that can meet WA’s needs and set new global benchmarks.
More Information
> LDES Technology Types
> The Long Game Use Cases
> How do I Submit to the Challenge?
> How can I Collaborate with other Solution Providers?
> Evaluation Criteria
> Timeline
> Who can Apply?
> General FAQs
LDES Technology Types
The following are examples of Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technologies of interest for The Long Game Challenge. This list is not exhaustive, and we welcome submissions that introduce novel or emerging approaches.
Each category is defined by the form of energy stored and the method used to convert it back into electricity. These technologies span a broad spectrum of durations, applications, and contexts — from remote microgrids to large-scale industrial use.
We are particularly interested in technologies suited to Western Australia’s unique energy challenges, including long distances, extreme climate conditions, and off-grid or hard-to-abate industrial settings.
Technology Type (Non-exhaustive) | Description | Examples (Non-exhaustive) |
Electro-chemical Storage | Stores and releases energy through chemical reactions. | – Flow batteries (e.g. vanadium redox, iron-chromium) |
Thermal Energy Storage | Stores energy as heat or cold, which can be converted back to electricity or used directly as process heat — especially valuable for industrial use. | – Molten salt or liquid metal systems |
Electro-mechanical Storage | Stores energy through movement, positioning, or pressure. | – Pumped hydro |
Chemical Storage | Converts electricity into hydrogen or synthetic fuels via chemical processes for later use as fuel or reconversion to electricity. | – Green hydrogen |
Hybrid/flexible systems | Combines two or more storage technologies to enhance flexibility, reliability, or system optimisation. | – Battery + thermal storage |
The Long Game Use Cases
After engagement with industry over the last few months we have identified the following use cases. We are seeking energy storage solutions to these that could make a meaningful impact in one or more of these use cases
Use Case 1: Energy Intensive Industries
(a) Industrial Clusters and Hard-to-Abate Sectors
WA’s economy is powered by energy-intensive industries like minerals processing, cement, steel, LNG, ports, and chemical manufacturing. These sectors require reliable, high-voltage, low-emission energy to decarbonise operations without disrupting 24/7 performance. Even short outages can cause major production losses.
(b) Digital Infrastructure and Data Centres
WA is emerging as a global hub for digital infrastructure, from remote sensing to radio astronomy (e.g. the SKA telescope). These systems need clean, uninterrupted backup power beyond the limits of conventional batteries. LDES can offer reliable, low-carbon grid support during outages or renewable shortfalls.
Key Needs:
- High power, low latency output
- +50 MW, multi-day discharge
- Integration with thermal or chemical systems
- Suitability for strategic industrial zones
- Cost-competitive and scalable to other global regions (e.g. Canada, Latin America, Southern Africa)
Use Case 2: Remote and Regional Microgrids
(a) Regional Microgrids
Remote communities and First Nations regions often rely on isolated microgrids or limited grid access. Aging infrastructure and diesel dependency limit renewable energy use and raise costs. LDES can help shift to cleaner, more resilient systems.
(b) Remote and Mobile Operations
Mining camps, defence sites, agricultural precincts, and disaster response facilities need dependable off-grid energy. LDES can reduce diesel use, support 24/7 renewables, and adapt to extreme environments. The shift toward electrification of mobile equipment increases this need.
Key Needs:
- Strong community engagement
- OPEX savings over diesel
- Dispatchable clean energy (10+ hours, multi-day)
- Compatibility with solar/wind hybrids
- Off-grid, low-maintenance, modular or transportable designs
- High-temperature tolerance
Use Case 3: Grid Flexibility and Stability
As WA phases out coal, the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) must manage longer periods of low renewable generation (“dunkelflaute” events). LDES can fill these gaps, balance the grid, and help manage peak demand.
LDES also offers a lower-cost alternative to major grid upgrades and can support essential services like Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) and system inertia.
Key Needs:
- Grid-scale, long-duration discharge
- Integration with large-scale solar, wind, or hydrogen systems
- New business models to justify long-term investment
- Compatibility with FCAS, inertia, and other grid services
- Proven safety, durability, and reliability
Use Case 4: LDES Digital Enablers
LDES deployment faces economic barriers — including high capital costs, risk-averse markets, and pricing models that don’t capture full system value. This use case seeks digital innovations that make the business case for LDES stack up.
We are looking for tools and models that help decision-makers unlock new value streams, share risk more effectively, and make smarter infrastructure trade-offs. This includes platforms that simulate LDES performance, optimise deployment decisions, or support new financing mechanisms.
Key Considerations:
- A platform to allow risk and reward sharing between investors, operators and customers
- Platforms that support alternative contracting or pricing models
- Valuation of resilience, system flexibility, and socio-environmental benefits
- Digital twins, modelling platforms, and scenario analysis tools
Note: This use case focuses on digital innovations that improve the business case for LDES. It does not seek proposals for new public policies or government incentives.
How can I collaborate with other solution providers?
Collaboration is strongly encouraged in The Long Game Challenge. During the submission process, you’ll be asked whether you’re open to partnering with other participants. Your response will help others discover your submission through filters on the platform, including by technology type or use case.
You can connect with other innovators in two ways:
- Private direct messages (DMs) through the platform
- Public comments on submission profiles
To support deeper collaboration, the GreenTech Hub will host two virtual “Ask Me Anything Sessions”. These live online events will give you the chance to meet Challenge Champions, speak with the Hub team, and explore potential partnerships with other participants.
The Challenge Tech Showcase event will also offer selected participants the chance to collaborate—both in the lead-up to the event (as invitations go out) and during the event itself.
Evaluation Criteria
Phase 1: Crowdsourcing
Submissions in this initial phase will be reviewed by the GreenTech Hub team, in collaboration with Challenge Champions and Supporters. The focus at this stage is to identify promising solutions aligned with the broad needs outlined in the challenge use cases.
Your submission will be evaluated against five key criteria:
Criteria | Description |
Relevance to WA Use Cases | Assesses how well the solution aligns with one or more of the Challenge’s focus areas. Evaluates relevance to Western Australia’s unique conditions, including remoteness, climate, infrastructure limitations, and regional or industry needs. |
Technical Viability and Deployment Readiness | Evaluates the solution’s feasibility, technical performance, and maturity (Technology Readiness Level). Considers adaptability to WA conditions, including modularity, ease of deployment, and suitability for redeployment. |
Innovation and Differentiation | Looks at the originality of the solution — whether in technology, business model, or application — and the degree to which it offers a clear improvement over existing approaches. |
Team Capability and Execution | Assesses the experience and qualifications of the team, Evaluates capacity to deliver and scale the solution effectively |
Scalability, Integration and Export Potential | Considers the potential to scale across WA and beyond, integrate with current systems and software, and align with relevant standards. Also values potential applicability in other national or global markets. |
Solution providers selected to join the Pitch Day will be invited to an expert evaluation panel. Additional guidance and requirements will be provided ahead of time to help teams prepare.
In this phase, submissions may also be assessed against additional criteria such as:
Criteria | Description |
Cost-effectiveness & Lifecycle Analysis | Evaluates the overall cost-benefit profile of the solution, including CAPEX, OPEX, and long-term operational efficiency. Considers lifecycle sustainability and performance under WA market conditions. |
Testability in Sandbox Environments | Preference is given to solutions that can be safely and effectively trialled in low-risk, collaborative sandbox environments, enabling faster validation and reducing risks for future deployment. |
Timeline
The graphic below shows the timeline for the challenge, these dates may be subject to change.
Who can apply?
The Long Game is open to a diverse range of applicants who can offer innovative Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) solutions tailored to Western Australia’s unique energy needs and conditions.
Submissions are invited from:
- Startups, SMEs, and Large Companies
Organisations developing, piloting, or commercialising LDES technologies or related innovations. - Research Institutions and Universities
Teams advancing research and development in LDES technologies, business models, or deployment strategies. - Consortia and Collaborations
Multi-party partnerships that bring together technical expertise, commercial capacity, and local knowledge to deliver integrated solutions. - First Nations-owned Enterprises and Community Groups
Entities proposing culturally informed, place-based energy solutions that support community outcomes and energy resilience. - Not-For-Profit Organisations and Industry Associations
Groups helping to accelerate the adoption of LDES technologies in Western Australia.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate their capacity to advance their solution through development, testing and deployment—with a clear understanding of WA’s operational context, market dynamics, and stakeholder needs.