Latest news with #CheaperHomeBatteriesProgram
Sydney Morning Herald
26 minutes ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Battery boom: Australians charge into next phase of solar revolution
Demand for household batteries is surging under the Albanese government's national rebate, with retailers reporting a fourfold rise in sales and inquiries as the scheme kicked off. However, experts warn householders that while spending thousands of dollars on a battery can dramatically cut annual power bills, it may not deliver rapid returns on investment. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program was one of the government's key election pledges, offering a 30 per cent rebate on the purchase and installation cost of a battery from July 1. Quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, owned by Origin Energy, reported a jump in battery inquiries in the lead-up to the scheme. Loading 'The volume for May was 400 per cent higher than the previous month, and about two-thirds of all quote requests are now for home batteries,' said Chris Zondanos, Origin general manager electrification. The scheme is limited to homes with solar panels, but householders without are eligible for the discount if they install panels and a battery at the same time. Scope for uptake is huge. Solar panels already soak up the sun on 4 million of the nation's 11 million homes. But just 250,000 have batteries. Battery installation company 1komma5 provided the discount to customers before the scheme kicked in. It can now claim the money back from the government.
The Age
26 minutes ago
- Business
- The Age
Battery boom: Australians charge into next phase of solar revolution
Demand for household batteries is surging under the Albanese government's national rebate, with retailers reporting a fourfold rise in sales and inquiries as the scheme kicked off. However, experts warn householders that while spending thousands of dollars on a battery can dramatically cut annual power bills, it may not deliver rapid returns on investment. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program was one of the government's key election pledges, offering a 30 per cent rebate on the purchase and installation cost of a battery from July 1. Quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, owned by Origin Energy, reported a jump in battery inquiries in the lead-up to the scheme. Loading 'The volume for May was 400 per cent higher than the previous month, and about two-thirds of all quote requests are now for home batteries,' said Chris Zondanos, Origin general manager electrification. The scheme is limited to homes with solar panels, but householders without are eligible for the discount if they install panels and a battery at the same time. Scope for uptake is huge. Solar panels already soak up the sun on 4 million of the nation's 11 million homes. But just 250,000 have batteries. Battery installation company 1komma5 provided the discount to customers before the scheme kicked in. It can now claim the money back from the government.
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
The solar battery rebate has arrived: here's what you need to know
The federal government's solar battery rebate opened on July 1, and, in a land of plentiful sun, many Australians are asking if it's worth adding to their energy system. The solar battery rebate offers 30 per cent off the cost of installing batteries from July 1, 2025, with the discount decreasing annually until the end of the program in 2030. The rebate is part of the federal government's $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, encouraging households and small businesses to install solar batteries. ACT installer SolarHub's chief executive Benn Masters said solar batteries had become a more worthwhile investment, with the systems now paying for themselves in five to six years rather than 10 to 12. His team had been run off their feet in the lead-up to the start of the rebate program, with some local businesses already booking installations into October 2025. Feed-in tariffs for solar have dropped substantially due to increased supply during the day, but the cost of energy in the evenings continues to rise. "A battery changes [the loss of feed-in tariffs] dramatically," Mr Masters said. "It allows you to charge the battery during the day and then discharge it at nighttime when you're paying those really high-peak rates, which can be upwards of 40, 50 cents a kilowatt-hour. "So rather than getting 6 cents a kilowatt-hour for your solar, you're getting 50 cents a kilowatt-hour." A kilowatt-hour measures the amount of electricity produced by solar panels. To be eligible for the program, a battery storage system must be in the range of 5 to 100 kilowatt-hours in nominal capacity. The nominal capacity is the maximum amount of energy a battery can store at full charge. Electric vehicles are not eligible battery systems for the program, and the chosen battery system and the inverter must be listed on the Clean Energy Council-approved product list. The cash payout for the rebate depends on the battery's capacity, with calculations available on the program's website. To be eligible for the rebate, battery systems must be installed on or after June 1. Some Canberra businesses have raised concerns about an increase in "cowboy" businesses entering the solar market, selling batteries at low cost and disappearing once the rebate wraps up. However, a Clean Energy Regulator spokesperson said the agency, which was administering the rebate program, would be monitoring the market to ensure all products and installers met the minimum safety and quality standards. The federal government's solar battery rebate opened on July 1, and, in a land of plentiful sun, many Australians are asking if it's worth adding to their energy system. The solar battery rebate offers 30 per cent off the cost of installing batteries from July 1, 2025, with the discount decreasing annually until the end of the program in 2030. The rebate is part of the federal government's $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, encouraging households and small businesses to install solar batteries. ACT installer SolarHub's chief executive Benn Masters said solar batteries had become a more worthwhile investment, with the systems now paying for themselves in five to six years rather than 10 to 12. His team had been run off their feet in the lead-up to the start of the rebate program, with some local businesses already booking installations into October 2025. Feed-in tariffs for solar have dropped substantially due to increased supply during the day, but the cost of energy in the evenings continues to rise. "A battery changes [the loss of feed-in tariffs] dramatically," Mr Masters said. "It allows you to charge the battery during the day and then discharge it at nighttime when you're paying those really high-peak rates, which can be upwards of 40, 50 cents a kilowatt-hour. "So rather than getting 6 cents a kilowatt-hour for your solar, you're getting 50 cents a kilowatt-hour." A kilowatt-hour measures the amount of electricity produced by solar panels. To be eligible for the program, a battery storage system must be in the range of 5 to 100 kilowatt-hours in nominal capacity. The nominal capacity is the maximum amount of energy a battery can store at full charge. Electric vehicles are not eligible battery systems for the program, and the chosen battery system and the inverter must be listed on the Clean Energy Council-approved product list. The cash payout for the rebate depends on the battery's capacity, with calculations available on the program's website. To be eligible for the rebate, battery systems must be installed on or after June 1. Some Canberra businesses have raised concerns about an increase in "cowboy" businesses entering the solar market, selling batteries at low cost and disappearing once the rebate wraps up. However, a Clean Energy Regulator spokesperson said the agency, which was administering the rebate program, would be monitoring the market to ensure all products and installers met the minimum safety and quality standards. The federal government's solar battery rebate opened on July 1, and, in a land of plentiful sun, many Australians are asking if it's worth adding to their energy system. The solar battery rebate offers 30 per cent off the cost of installing batteries from July 1, 2025, with the discount decreasing annually until the end of the program in 2030. The rebate is part of the federal government's $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, encouraging households and small businesses to install solar batteries. ACT installer SolarHub's chief executive Benn Masters said solar batteries had become a more worthwhile investment, with the systems now paying for themselves in five to six years rather than 10 to 12. His team had been run off their feet in the lead-up to the start of the rebate program, with some local businesses already booking installations into October 2025. Feed-in tariffs for solar have dropped substantially due to increased supply during the day, but the cost of energy in the evenings continues to rise. "A battery changes [the loss of feed-in tariffs] dramatically," Mr Masters said. "It allows you to charge the battery during the day and then discharge it at nighttime when you're paying those really high-peak rates, which can be upwards of 40, 50 cents a kilowatt-hour. "So rather than getting 6 cents a kilowatt-hour for your solar, you're getting 50 cents a kilowatt-hour." A kilowatt-hour measures the amount of electricity produced by solar panels. To be eligible for the program, a battery storage system must be in the range of 5 to 100 kilowatt-hours in nominal capacity. The nominal capacity is the maximum amount of energy a battery can store at full charge. Electric vehicles are not eligible battery systems for the program, and the chosen battery system and the inverter must be listed on the Clean Energy Council-approved product list. The cash payout for the rebate depends on the battery's capacity, with calculations available on the program's website. To be eligible for the rebate, battery systems must be installed on or after June 1. Some Canberra businesses have raised concerns about an increase in "cowboy" businesses entering the solar market, selling batteries at low cost and disappearing once the rebate wraps up. However, a Clean Energy Regulator spokesperson said the agency, which was administering the rebate program, would be monitoring the market to ensure all products and installers met the minimum safety and quality standards. The federal government's solar battery rebate opened on July 1, and, in a land of plentiful sun, many Australians are asking if it's worth adding to their energy system. The solar battery rebate offers 30 per cent off the cost of installing batteries from July 1, 2025, with the discount decreasing annually until the end of the program in 2030. The rebate is part of the federal government's $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, encouraging households and small businesses to install solar batteries. ACT installer SolarHub's chief executive Benn Masters said solar batteries had become a more worthwhile investment, with the systems now paying for themselves in five to six years rather than 10 to 12. His team had been run off their feet in the lead-up to the start of the rebate program, with some local businesses already booking installations into October 2025. Feed-in tariffs for solar have dropped substantially due to increased supply during the day, but the cost of energy in the evenings continues to rise. "A battery changes [the loss of feed-in tariffs] dramatically," Mr Masters said. "It allows you to charge the battery during the day and then discharge it at nighttime when you're paying those really high-peak rates, which can be upwards of 40, 50 cents a kilowatt-hour. "So rather than getting 6 cents a kilowatt-hour for your solar, you're getting 50 cents a kilowatt-hour." A kilowatt-hour measures the amount of electricity produced by solar panels. To be eligible for the program, a battery storage system must be in the range of 5 to 100 kilowatt-hours in nominal capacity. The nominal capacity is the maximum amount of energy a battery can store at full charge. Electric vehicles are not eligible battery systems for the program, and the chosen battery system and the inverter must be listed on the Clean Energy Council-approved product list. The cash payout for the rebate depends on the battery's capacity, with calculations available on the program's website. To be eligible for the rebate, battery systems must be installed on or after June 1. Some Canberra businesses have raised concerns about an increase in "cowboy" businesses entering the solar market, selling batteries at low cost and disappearing once the rebate wraps up. However, a Clean Energy Regulator spokesperson said the agency, which was administering the rebate program, would be monitoring the market to ensure all products and installers met the minimum safety and quality standards.
Perth Now
23-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Aussies want solar batteries but many feel overwhelmed
Almost one in every three Australians feels overwhelmed by the process of choosing and installing a solar battery even as demand for the technology grows in the lead-up to a national rebate scheme. More than half of all Australians are also put off by the cost of the technology, a study has found, despite falling prices and low-interest loans. The Commonwealth Bank and finance firm Brighte released the findings on Monday while launching a Home Energy Upgrades Service designed to provide advice and quotes for households investigating energy upgrades. Their announcement comes one week before Energy Minister Chris Bowen launches the federal government's $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program that promises to deliver a discount of 30 per cent on the cost of installing a battery. Despite the rebate, a survey of more than 2000 Australians conducted by Pure Profile found 30 per cent felt overwhelmed by the process of having a battery installed and 52 per cent considered the up-front cost too high. Many factors could be serving to confuse consumers, Commonwealth Bank general manager Joel Larsen said, from working out what size of battery would work best for their home to how soon the technology could turn a profit. "The technology aspects of it around battery storage, capacity, and solar production capability can overwhelm the average consumer," he told AAP. "We know what people are really looking for is a payback period." In addition to questions about financial returns, government incentives can also be tricky to identify. While the federal scheme allows consumers to "stack" rebates, only Western Australia will have a battery rebate in place after July, with incentives up to $7500 depending on a household's energy provider. Some states and territories including Tasmania and the ACT offer no-interest loans, however. The Commonwealth Bank will also offer discounted loans and a $1500 rebate to its home loan customers seeking to install batteries, solar panels or EV chargers, Mr Larsen said, and he expected plenty of interest, particularly from households with solar panels already installed. "More and more Australians are looking to take up home energy services and really reduce their expenses when it comes to energy bills and utilities," he said. "We've seen a pretty significant increase in the number of customers coming to us post the federal election and I expect that will continue to grow." A recent Climate Council report found 300,000 Australians homes had a battery installed, although that represented only eight per cent of the four million homes with solar panels. More information and advice about installing solar batteries would be required to ensure Australians could be confident in purchasing the technology, Climate Council spokesman Greg Bourne said. "An educational process has to come before people spend hard-earned cash," he said. "Even with a subsidy there are still so many offers that go out that people do need to (educate themselves)."
SBS Australia
15-06-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Solar batteries are about to get cheaper. But some existing solar panel users are sceptical
From 1 July, the government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program will provide a 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of installing eligible small-scale battery systems. Source: SBS, AAP Homeowners hoping to reduce their power bills by installing solar panels are now considering whether new discounts for solar batteries will be worth it. From 1 July, the federal government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program will provide a 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of installing eligible small-scale battery systems. But homeowners like Victorian resident Lee Bolger, who invested in solar panels a few years ago, are now experiencing dramatic drops in their feed-in tariffs and are sceptical about the added benefit of batteries. Feed-in tariffs — credits issued by energy retailers — allow solar owners to earn money for any unused electricity they generate, which is fed into the electricity grid. The rates vary across different states and electricity providers. Adam Corrigan, an energy efficiency expert and founder of Your Energy Friend, says each household is different, and there are many other energy-saving options to consider before spending thousands on solar and batteries. Bolger, who lives in the Victorian town of Great Western, says he installed 30 panels on his eight-bedroom home in March 2023. He rents out rooms in his house to boarders and says they use a lot of electricity as they often have the air-conditioning and heating on. His 12-kilowatt system cost him $12,680 after rebates and other discounts, which he estimated he could recoup in around six years. But the feed-in tariff at the time was around 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), and now he only gets around 6 cents. More drops are expected, with comparison website Finder saying the minimum rate for tariffs in Victoria will drop to 0.04 cents from 1 July, although better rates are available depending on the provider. Fifteen years ago, they were as high as 60 cents. Bolger estimates his original feed-in tariff of 12c per kWh would have saved him around $1,000 a year. When combined with the estimated $1,000 worth of electricity he saves relying on energy generated from his own system, he receives a total benefit of $2,000 per year from his solar panels. If the feed-in tariff drops to practically zero, the benefit from his panels will reduce to around $1000 a year, meaning the time Bolger would need to pay off his panels would almost double. He says the experience has made him "indifferent" about the economic benefits of solar and he won't be recommending it to others. Bolger doesn't believe installing a battery will make a difference, because his solar panels won't generate enough excess energy to store — especially in winter when it's often raining and dark — to make the purchase worthwhile. "My summer bills were ridiculously low. In winter, you will not generally get enough charge into the battery to make a big difference," he says. Corrigan says other households might be in a different position to Bolger, as the average NSW home only uses about 20kWh of electricity per day. The NSW-based energy expert, who has a 1.5 kilowatt solar system, says he uses less than 10 kilowatt-hours a day, although his cooktop is powered by gas. "[For] most homes, a 10 kilowatt or 14 kilowatt battery will get you through the night easily," he says. "However, if you are cranking your air conditioner and you've got ducted air conditioning, it's probably only going to last you two, three hours." Corrigan says batteries will work for some households and the new federal rebate does make the cost more affordable. A battery makes so much sense, because you can store that excess electricity you're generating in the middle of the day and then use it in the early evening. Finder has estimated the cost of a 10kWh battery could come down to between $6,713 – $8,904 due to the federal discount. "In Australia, the average household uses about 15 to 20kWh of electricity per day," a Finder spokesperson says. "If most of your energy consumption is in the evening and you're paying a single electricity rate — let's use 32.34c per kWh as an average based on single-rate plans in our database — then with a 10kWh battery and using 80 per cent of its capacity, you could save about $850 a year," a Finder spokesperson says. "However, the actual savings can vary depending on the type of electricity plan you have, the rates you pay, your solar panel setup, your energy consumption patterns, and how much electricity you export back to the grid." While the federal battery discount applies nationally, the states and territories also have programs that can be used to further reduce the cost. Corrigan recommends considering other options before investing in expensive solar panels and battery systems. He suggests Bolger should review his insulation and energy efficiency measures to reduce his electricity consumption. The first thing he recommends for households is to analyse their power bills and shop around to get the best deal. Making your house more energy-efficient should be the next priority before considering solar panels and, finally, batteries. If you want to make your home more comfortable, get your insulation sorted and do your draft proofing. That's your best return on investment. That's your best bang for buck. Corrigan says simple changes such as installing heavy-lined curtains and a box pelmet (which goes around the top of the curtain) can be very effective at keeping your home warm, and are much cheaper than double-glazed windows, for example. Using a thermal camera around the home can also show gaps in roof insulation where batteries might have been moved. "You only need a 5 per cent gap in that insulation blanket, and the effectiveness of that insulation — the whole blanket — diminishes by almost a half," Corrigan says. "When you get into bed tonight and you pull the doona up, just cut some holes in it, see how well it works." When considering whether to invest in a battery system, Corrigan says the first consideration is cost, as they are expensive and many people don't have the money sitting in the bank. Those who already have a solar system should check whether their inverter is battery-compatible, as this could also raise warranty issues if it needs to be replaced. Another consideration is what your next car will be. Corrigan says in one to two years, electric vehicles will be capable of vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid functionality, allowing EV batteries to be used to power your home. "Some people are already doing it," he says. They are an attractive option because EV batteries generally have a huge capacity of around 50-70kWh. "You could run your home for days on it."
