Clean Energy Council advocates incentive program for home battery uptake
The Clean Energy Council has called for the initiation of a nationwide incentive program aimed at promoting the integration of home batteries into Australia's energy grid.
The Clean Energy Council asserts that the time is ripe to throw support behind home batteries as a vital element in Australia's sustainable energy journey. Drawing parallels with the success of federal rebate programs in fostering the widespread adoption of rooftop solar installations, the CEC suggests a similar approach could catalyze the uptake of home batteries.
The proposed Home Battery Saver Program is positioned as a critical component complementing existing federal initiatives such as the Capacity Investment Scheme and the Powering Australia plan. Together with the solar Photovoltaic Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), these efforts are aimed at achieving the Federal Government's target of 82% renewable energy penetration by 2030.
An initiative focused on home battery adoption, they argue, could yield significant reductions in electricity expenses for homeowners, while concurrently providing broader advantages for the entire energy ecosystem.
Under the proposed scheme, households adopting standalone battery systems could potentially save over $900 annually on their energy bills. Meanwhile, residences equipped with more sophisticated integrated setups could see savings exceeding $1150 per year, with an overall system-wide net saving estimated at $190 million.
Con Hristodoulidis, Director of Distributed Energy at the Clean Energy Council, said, “A national scheme is now needed to maximise the benefits of orchestrated home batteries for consumers and this has to be designed to deliver the highest quality products and meet strong safety standards."
Residential battery systems offer homeowners flexibility in managing electricity generation, consumption, and storage, particularly when paired with rooftop solar arrays. Additionally, orchestrated battery setups can facilitate electricity trading with the grid during optimal periods, thereby enhancing consumer savings and supporting the overall stability of the energy network.
