Australia incentivises consumers to join renewables revolution

The Australian government is offering 30% discounts on solar batteries for 10 million households, small businesses and communities.

The AUS$2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a new addition to the nation’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, that encourages consumers to install small-scale renewable energy systems, including rooftop solar, solar batteries, solar water heaters and air sourced heat pumps.

Australia is already a world leader in rooftop solar, with systems installed in more than 4 million homes (40%+). But only one in 40 households has installed batteries, due to the high upfront cost.

Now, consumers may be eligible for around a 30% discount on the cost of installing small-scale batteries (5 kWh to 100 kWh), connected to new or existing rooftop solar.

Discounts will be applied by approved suppliers and the level of subsidy will be reviewed annually, in line with falling battery costs.

Cheaper & Cleaner

The government says the initiative targets:

• Helping consumers make the most of cheap and clean solar power by storing it for when it is needed most.
• Balancing demand for a more stable grid.
• Including consumers in its overall strategy of transitioning rapidly from reliance on coal, to sustainable renewable energy.

The inclusion of small businesses and community-scale installations in the scheme is clearly an opportunity for our Australian partner EcoJoule, with its EcoSTORE battery systems.

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) is delivering the program through the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which has successfully delivered solar discounts since 2011.