Sunday April 6, 2025
Australia is the world leader when it comes to solar panels and experts say Labor’s latest energy policy announcement could see us blazing a similar trail on battery storage too.
The $2.3 billion election pledge offers a 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of a household battery, with small businesses and community facilities also eligible. The expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme will kick in on July 1 2025 and is anticipated to save recipients $1,100 per year ongoing on their power bills. The government estimates this policy will lead to one million new home batteries being installed by 2030.
The following experts and case studies are available for comment:
Case studies
Ken Enderby, Concord, Sydney NSW
Ken can speak about his rooftop solar and battery set up, and how he’s concerned power bills for solar users will go up under a nuclear energy policy.
Mamoon Reza, Newtown, Sydney NSW
Mamoon can speak about how installing solar and a battery has reduced his family’s power bills.
Anneliese Alexander, Holsworthy, Sydney NSW
Anneliese says she will now be able to afford a battery for her family who currently have rooftop solar.
Sophie Nichols, grazier, Hunter NSW
Sophie can speak about how installing a battery has benefited her farm and business.
To arrange interviews, please contact:
Laura Corrigan
0423 690 152
laura.corrigan@climatemediacentre.org.au
Energy experts
Warwick Johnston, Managing Director, SunWiz - 0413 361 534
Warwick can speak to residential solar, commercial solar, and batteries.
Location: Melbourne
“For well over a decade, Australia's uptake of rooftop solar power has been world leading. While there are over four million solar power installations in Australia, less than 10 percent of them host a battery system. More batteries means more resilience, bill savings, and fewer blackouts. A battery subsidy that's swiftly-implemented will enhance Australia's utilisation of its greatest resource: the sun.”
Jay Gordon, Energy Finance Analyst, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) - 0427 796 861
Jay can speak to energy prices, solar and battery incentives.
Location: Melbourne
"Residential batteries are a no-brainer solution to put Australia's abundant low-cost solar energy to work. Residential batteries should be considered as part of a package deal with other cost-effective solutions to reduce energy bills. This includes supporting households to transition away from gas appliances, upgrading the efficiency of Australian homes, installing more rooftop solar and shifting key energy loads to the middle of the day.”
Stephanie Bashir, CEO, Nexa Advisory - 0402 060 120
Stephanie can speak to energy prices, renewables, energy rebates, battery subsidies, consumer energy, and transmission.
Location: Melbourne
“A well designed and implemented, and enduring scheme to support investment in home and business batteries will help ease cost of living pressures, energy security and reliability. An extension to the existing certificate scheme would be a good way forward.”
Tim Buckley, Director Climate Energy Finance - 0408 102 127
Tim can speak to electricity prices, batteries, Future Made in Australia, green steel, green iron, green aluminium, and electrification of everything.
Location: Sydney
“This is exactly the policy support needed to immediately start providing Australian consumers enhanced support to access a lot more distributed energy resources – in particular residential batteries to support even more rooftop solar. This leverages the existing grid transmission and distribution structure, this benefits all electricity consumers and can be deployed fast – in days, rather than decades, like nuclear! We trust this also includes batteries for apartments so everyone can benefit from the solar revolution.”
