More than 180 sites which are potentially suited for pumped hydro energy storage have been identified across South Australia, as the state looks for ways to better secure its future energy needs.

Australian National University (ANU) researchers said the findings could be a valuable contribution to debate on Australia's energy security.

Hydro power storage involves pumping water uphill where it is held to then be used to generate electricity as required.

Lead researcher Professor Andrew Blakers said finding potential sites was only a first step.

"There are many sites in South Australia that may be suitable for establishing pumped hydro storage, to help build a sustainable, secure and affordable electricity grid," he said.

"This assessment is based on very appealing physical characteristics.

"But the 185 potential upper reservoir sites identified would require detailed due diligence, involving land ownership, engineering, hydrological, environmental and other considerations."

Upper reservoirs such as these would store water ready for power generation when needed. ( Supplied: ANU )

Professor Blakers said the energy generation method could evolve quickly into playing a significant role.

"It could happen quite fast — there are many wind and solar farm developers and other companies looking at ways to enter the market to offer stabilisation technology for South Australia in particular, because South Australia is leading the way with wind and solar photovoltaics," he said.

"We think that pumped hydro will be a very important part of the energy mix because it has at the moment a very large cost advantage over batteries for storage in the 10-20 hour range."

Pumped hydro works with renewables

Professor Blakers said pumped hydro made up 97 per cent of energy storage across the world and could be useful in supporting places with high levels of renewable energy.

"All the potential sites in South Australia are outside national parks and urban areas," the researcher said.

Potential pumped hydro sites and gradients mapped across South Australia. ( Supplied: ANU )

Pumping from rivers requires two storage reservoirs joined by a pipe and using a turbine and pump to move water between the upper and lower reservoirs to generate power.

Another member of the research team, Matthew Stocks, said water requirements would not be onerous.

"About 400 hectares of reservoir is required to support a 100 per cent renewable energy grid for South Australia, which is four parts per million of the state's land mass," he explained.

"[The] annual water requirement would be less than 1 per cent of SA's annual extraction from the Murray."

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has helped fund the ANU research.

"Pumped hydro is the most mature form of energy storage and studies like these are helping to determine whether it could play an even greater role in increasing grid stability," ARENA chief executive Ivor Frischknecht said.