Families at frontline of net zero power play
Ryan and Alicia Parsons went the next level adding batteries to their home to bring down ongoing costs and make the most of the solar setup.
Experts are predicting an eight-fold rise in off-grid battery storage in homes across suburbia as families battle soaring cost of living and energy woes – with thousands in rebates in the mix.
Over 40 per cent of Aussie homes have solar power (four million households) but the next frontier in the cost of living/net zero battle is set to be private battery storage.
Clean Energy Council general manager distributed energy, Con Hristodoulidis, said home battery take-up has been steadily growing with nearly 30,000 battery units sold in the first half of last year alone, but it was the main hope for Australia’s plan to get to net zero.
“The Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Integrated System Plan (ISP) shows the least cost pathway to net zero will mean rooftop solar and home batteries will make up around 50 per cent of our renewable energy mix.”
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The Clean Energy Council is pushing for similar government rebates for private batteries as there have been for solar power which would give thousands of dollars to families..
Con Hristodoulidis said the Clean Energy Council is calling for around $6,500 in rebates to families and small businesses to boost private battery activation. Picture: Matt Turner.
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He said “right now, we know that over a quarter of households and small businesses installing rooftop solar, are also attaching residential battery storage systems, indicating substantial potential for further uptake.”
The key barrier for households was the upfront cost of a home battery system, given it can be up to $15,000 – something which has pushed the Clean Energy Council to call for a national Home Battery Saver Program with rebates for homes and SMEs of up to $6,500.
Mr Hristodoulidis said with such a program in place “payback periods for home batteries, which are typically longer than rooftop solar panels, can be reasonably expected to decrease by 36 per cent to 2030”, which could see over 410,000 additional batteries and $190m in net savings for the entire energy system.
On and off grid service provider VoltX Energy chief operating officer David Sedighi believes the uptake of home batteries nationally will turbocharge over the next 12 months, with his firm seeing a 500 per cent spike in demand for solar battery storage as people tried to shield themselves rising energy bills and any storm blackouts.
“We alone are anticipating an eight-fold increase from around 1,500 households per year to over 12,000,” he said.
Ryan and Alicia Parsons went the next level adding batteries to their new home to bring down ongoing costs and make the most of the solar setup.
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Mr Sedighi said in New South Wales crews had already begun working weekends to meet demand.
“Not only are we seeing a rapid increase in people installing a home battery but households are often opting for two batteries to retain more of the solar power they are generating during the day, to use at night and reducing reliance on the grid with many of our clients no longer paying an electricity bill at all.”
Ryan and Alicia Parsons went the next level adding batteries to their new build home to bring down ongoing costs and make the most of their extensive solar setup.
Their home is now entirely powered by solar and battery storage, something they knew would increase its value and reduce their electricity bill to zero.
Mr Parsons said his family saved nearly $3,000 and has even been paid by the electricity company for power pumped back into the grid.
The annual savings in energy costs for homes could range as high as $1,500 for those who are part of the program.
David Sedighi, Voltx Energy Chief Operating Officer.
The good news is that boosting energy self-sufficiency could also add to home values too, according to Herron Todd White CEO Gary Brinkworth who is part of a landmark trial with the CSIRO, ING, the Australian Government, and Efficient Living to integrate sustainability into property valuations.
This will be through a Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) which will shape how energy efficiency is assessed across Australia’s nine million existing homes – and drive property valuation in a net-zero economy.
“This is a significant milestone and a display of innovation for the valuation industry,” he said.
The trial is now in Phase two, with the scheme expected to provide insight into a home’s energy performance, practical ways to enhance efficiency, and give access to green loans when it launches mid-2025.
The housing market has already begun to shift in that direction, with energy-efficient homes generally considered more valuable when it comes time to sell.
“Energy-efficient homes, or “green homes” can often sell for a premium compared to traditional homes due to the lower operating costs,” Mr Sedighi said.
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“Homes with energy-efficient upgrades, especially those with solar and home battery systems are more likely to attract buyers and can garner up to 5 per cent more than similar homes without those features because of the significant electricity savings”.
Climate Council research found a 4kWh battery to a 5kW residential solar system could double the amount of self-generated solar electricity a household consumed from 30 per cent to 60 per cent.
The typical 10kWh battery being installed in Aussie homes is about the size of a medium filing cabinet, generally attached to the side of a home or placed into the garage – and able to a 1kW appliance for 10 hours which could keep essentials like lights, WiFi and a fridge running through the night.
The latest World Energy Investment Report predicts residential batteries will increase by 25 per cent a year in the next five years globally, with takeup set to climb as they become more affordable and selling solar back into the state grid becomes less valuable.