The Clean Energy Council says that Dr Helen Haines’s Cheaper Home Batteries Bill would be a win for the grid, with more Australians able to embrace the benefits of renewable energy.
Under Dr Haines’s plan, home batteries would be brought into the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), a policy that has enjoyed bi-partisan support and has played a critical role in the growth of clean energy in Australia.
The Clean Energy Council’s Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Future: Federal Election policy recommendations, released last week, highlights the need for a household battery program.
Household batteries have become increasingly popular, with 23,796 Australian homes installing a battery in 2020. While the cost of household batteries continues to fall, the upfront cost of systems remains a barrier for most Australians.
Battery installation currently represents around 7 per cent of clean energy employment (the majority of which is in small-scale systems) but under some scenarios within the Australian Energy Market Operator’s 2020 Integrated System Plan, it could represent between 11 and 32 per cent by 2035, depending on government policies.
“There is a role for governments to incentivise battery solutions and drive innovation in business models to support the increased customer uptake of household battery systems,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton.
“This is a move that will reduce the upfront cost of household batteries and accelerate the deployment and development of the household battery industry.”
The Clean Energy Council looks forward to working with Dr Helen Haines and others on policies that drive energy storage investment, enabling ever-increasing renewable generation with an equity ‘safety net’ for vulnerable customers.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Jane Aubrey
Clean Energy Council Media Manager
[email protected]
+61 409 470 683
