A client recently presented us with a challenge: More than 2,000 properties that could have solar and batteries installed, but a limited budget. Here's what we found.
Rooftop solar almost always pays off – but what happens when you add batteries?
Battery/Storage
Solar and battery microgrids slash diesel and dollars in six remote towns
A $15m large-scale solar and battery storage rollout across six regional Western Australia towns has been completed, with a final system installed at Norseman.
Virtual power plants will fail without an industry overhaul that puts consumers first
Australians aren’t signing up to VPPs at the rate the government needs to meet its climate targets. Here's why – and what needs to change.
Solar product accreditation stays with CEC, on condition of “new and improved” service
Clean Energy Council retains the job of managing the list of products that can participate in the federal rooftop solar rebate, on the condition it lifts its game.
Home battery discounts of up to $2,400 finally arrive, to slash bills and crush coal
Five months after it was first announced, NSW launches its home battery incentive, offering up to $2,400 discounts on solar storage and rebates to join VPPs.
Council launches first non-network owned community battery backed by federal scheme
First non-network owned battery delivered through federal Labor's Community Batteries program launches on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
“We’re trying to disrupt:” Revived Redback reveals new home battery specs, VPP plans
Australian-owned and operated Redback Technologies reveals specs of its new batteries and its plans to "make people sit up and take notice again."
Real community batteries are uninsurable in energy game of “snakes and ladders”
Village Power are the latest community energy group to be knocked back for asset insurance for their community battery.
Redback unveils new home battery range, months after scrape with administration
Australian home battery and smart inverter outfit announces launch of "next generation" product range, six months after a brief stint in voluntary administration.
AGL offers cheap finance to get batteries into homes – and homes into its VPP
AGL Energy dangles a new carrot to entice customers to join its virtual power plant, which it hopes will reach 1.6GW of combined capacity by 2027.
“They will be cost effective:” Ausgrid defends network roll-out of community batteries
Ausgrid says costs for community batteries are coming down with each new deployment – and they will be cost-effective without government grants.
Residential renewables can pay for themselves before they reach their end of life
Last year I shared an article about how to calculate the break-even point on my family home’s renewable energy system. New data means an update on the ROI.
A million home batteries could build far fewer power lines. We just need the right incentives
Australia is already a world leader in rooftop solar. With the right policy levers, we can also lead the world in home energy storage.
Community batteries still need grants, but are crucial for energy transition
Zero Emissions Noosa report argues community batteries can provide quick and flexible responses without social licence problems, high cost, and delivery problems of large scale projects.
Two EVs and a heated pool: The first family to install a Tesla Powerwall 3 home battery in Australia
The first family to install a Tesla Powerwall 3 home battery in Australia expects a quick payback. "We're spending about $5000 a year on power and we're expecting that to disappear."
Why only “smart” hot water systems should qualify for government subsidies
Dynamic and flexible hot water management systems enable water to be heated when renewable energy is available, and could save over $6 billion in household costs.
