A home battery that made its debut in Australia less than two years ago has grabbed top spot for market share in March, while Tesla's Powerwall tumbles down the rankings. A groundbreaking retail electricity trial is offering to pay customers to curtail their rooftop solar exports when prices are negative. Data used to showcase the downward impact of renewable energy on power prices contained a stunning and timely reminder: nothing has crushed household energy bills like rooftop solar. New data shows home battery installations had a bumper second half in 2024 – but still only a fraction of solar homes have invested in storage. Smart Energy Council's Darren Johannesen explains how Australia's solar "waste" stream is actually a massive reclaimed resources opportunity – but the federal government needs to act fast. Plus, news of the week. Rather than sit back and let the transition unfold, this regional council took the lead, helping ensure the community would engage with the shift to renewables. Rooftop solar module made by Australia's only PV manufacturer achieves something none of its competitors can match in new ranking of the best performing panels. Balancing the higher upfront cost of energy efficient homes with their long-term savings on power bills is a challenge in the rush to build affordable housing. Legislation to extend Victoria's market-based energy efficiency subsidy scheme by a further 15 years has passed through state parliament. Chinese solar manufacturer unveils new PV modules with heterojunction back contact technology efficiency of up to 25% and maximum power output of up to 510W. Study finds more than one in three households are considering quitting gas to save money and the environment, while the number of people resisting the switch has fallen. An electrician has been convicted and fined for falsely claiming to have installed or supervised a total of 62 rooftop solar systems as part of the national rebate scheme. Shalanda Baker, a former Director of Energy Justice and Equity under the Biden administration, on how to avoid repeating the inequities of the fossil fuel era in the rapid shift to green energy. A promise that Australians can get a battery now and claim the rebate later has triggered a rush on installers. Here’s why consumers should tread carefully. A solar and battery system installed at an almond orchard in Griffith will be able to supply nearly all of its electricity supply and connect it to a virtual power plant. Millions of households expected to look at home batteries thanks to federal scheme, but concerns raised about potential backlogs and skills shortage.
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