Luciferase,
All storage is scalable to some degree, and most is viable to some degree. Batteries are likely to become viable for much more widespread use in the future, as billions are being spent on R&D to increase the effectiveness and reduce the cost. Meanwhile there's Snowy 2.0 and the potential to do similar at some of our other hydro dams. But the technology to boost our storage capacity most quickly (and quite cheaply) is solar thermal with molten salt storage.

So it's not a matter of living in hope; it's a matter of recognising that technology is improving but there's a lot we can do already.

As for your hypothetical scenario, you are the one making the reasoning error that the cost of coal power can be ignored during its phaseout. I have not made any similar assumptions.

If we could just get Adian to trade places with Emma of Australian story. And dying of cancer? He'd become nuclear's newest convert and find all the reasons we could roll out a few MSR reactors.so he could get a shot at the only hope Emmas of this world have. Bismuth 213 An alpha particle isotope, that is attached to an antibody to go directly to the cancer cells killing them without touching or damaging the healthy cells. As good as broad-scale solar thermal is! It can't make Bismuth213. Only a nuclear reactor does that and none better or more productive than MSR thorium. XXX Alan B.

Alan B.,
It does damage healthy cells. What made you think otherwise?
Is there a shortage of 213Bi?

BTW even if we do decide to go with nuclear, it would still make sense to invest heavily in storage.

Diver Dan...forget about the Numb Rays - collect the hot air from the numb skull pollies.

Geoff, I did not see in your article any reference to the battery
losses involved in the charge/discharge cycle.
The figure for all batteries is around 30%.

I have only seen one study that calculated the amount of battery
backup needed to support a wind/solar/nuclear grid.

http://tinyurl.com/y86l6keo

For the UK grid with nuclear backup 14,000 batteries the size of
Sth Australia's would be needed.
Proportion it against Australia and some 6000 batteries would be needed.

I think $1 per watt hour is more like the real price.
Better batteries are like fusion power always coming.
A study was made of all elements in the table and we appear to have
been using the best available for some time.