A list of 14 sites with high potential for pumped hydro energy storage in Tasmania has been released.

The energy system sees water pumped up to the dams or storage areas when energy is plentiful, and run back down through a turbine to generate power when needed.

The Tasmanian and Federal governments are pushing to make the state ‘the battery of the nation’, and say that the 14 sites are at eight lakes could have a combined capacity of up to 4,800 megawatts if developed.

“We looked at the geology, the geography, the topography to ascertain through the various lakes — whether they're Lake Rosebery or Lake Murchison or Lake Margaret or Lake Rowallan or Lake Echo — whether they are the appropriate places for pumped hydro facilities,” said Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.

Mr Frydenberg said up to 3000 jobs could be created in regional Tasmania over 10 to 15 years if the projects go ahead.

“There is a good economic case for Tasmania for expanding their existing energy generation assets,” he said.

“Assets that can be used to stabilise the domestic energy system in Tasmania, and create thousands of jobs as well as also exporting power to the mainland.

“It's been used successfully in other parts of the country, and indeed pumped hydro facilities represent more than 97 per cent of all renewable energy storage across the world.”

The next step for the 14 sites will include a 12-month pre-feasibility assessment, including “surveying to the highest available accuracy, modelling of both the market and water resource, and identifying environmental, cultural and social impacts”, the energy minister said.