What's the best battery for your home? Demand surges on back of new rebates

The Advertiser

21-05-2025

Hunter households are investing in battery systems at an unprecedented rate thanks to new federal government rebates.
After having been at the forefront of Australia's rooftop solar uptake over the past decade, the region is now leading the way with storage systems.
The battery boom follows a $2.3 billion Labor election pledge to cover around 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost for anyone buying a household battery system.
Hunter battery installers have been run off their feet with consumers keen to cash in on the subsidy program, which kicks in from July 1.
"We had about 200 inquiries in the week after the subsidy was announced and it's remained fairly constant since then," Hunter Solar Solutions co-owner Luke Williams said.
There are presently 77 solar batteries on the Australian market.
Prices start at about $4000 for a five-kilowatt-hour battery. Larger 10-kilowatt systems range from $6000 to $10,000.
With the rebate factored in, Mr Williams said most people were investing about $10,000 on 10 to 15 kilowatt hour storage systems. For the average household the investment will pay for itself within three to four years.
Installation times are expected to increase significantly towards the back end of the year.
"We are booking customers from mid-July at this stage. It hasn't blown out yet but once it gets closer to July you will probably be waiting six to eight weeks," Mr Williams said.
"We have a lot of accredited installers on board so we can get through the work as quickly as possible."
About 75 per cent of the world's batteries are manufactured in China, Tomago-based Energy Renaissance last month announced plans to give local consumers the opportunity to purchase an Australian-made home battery.
The company, in partnership with CSIRO, has developed the SuperHome battery that it plans to introduce to the domestic market within 12 months.
Energy Renaissance chief executive Brian Craighead said the company hoped to scale up production quickly and produce between 10,000 to 20,000 units a year. The figure represents about 15 per cent of annual domestic home battery sales.
He estimated the plant's workforce would grow to more than 500 if the plans for home battery manufacturing were realised.
"We're asking the National Reconstruction Fund to help us fill this with more equipment. With the right amount of equipment, we can shift 10,000 units here, and then we will build another factory."
Mr Craighead said he expected the battery to retail for between the price of a Chinese-made battery and a Tesla battery.
While the solar battery boom will directly benefit consumers, it will also ease the strain on the electricity system in the evenings and keeping a lid on spiking prices.
"It's important to understand that this policy will help reduce the power bills of everyone, not just those who can get solar and a battery," Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said.
"Less demand on the energy grid means fewer price peaks, a win-win for all."
Hunter households are investing in battery systems at an unprecedented rate thanks to new federal government rebates.
After having been at the forefront of Australia's rooftop solar uptake over the past decade, the region is now leading the way with storage systems.
The battery boom follows a $2.3 billion Labor election pledge to cover around 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost for anyone buying a household battery system.
Hunter battery installers have been run off their feet with consumers keen to cash in on the subsidy program, which kicks in from July 1.
"We had about 200 inquiries in the week after the subsidy was announced and it's remained fairly constant since then," Hunter Solar Solutions co-owner Luke Williams said.
There are presently 77 solar batteries on the Australian market.
Prices start at about $4000 for a five-kilowatt-hour battery. Larger 10-kilowatt systems range from $6000 to $10,000.
With the rebate factored in, Mr Williams said most people were investing about $10,000 on 10 to 15 kilowatt hour storage systems. For the average household the investment will pay for itself within three to four years.
Installation times are expected to increase significantly towards the back end of the year.
"We are booking customers from mid-July at this stage. It hasn't blown out yet but once it gets closer to July you will probably be waiting six to eight weeks," Mr Williams said.
"We have a lot of accredited installers on board so we can get through the work as quickly as possible."
About 75 per cent of the world's batteries are manufactured in China, Tomago-based Energy Renaissance last month announced plans to give local consumers the opportunity to purchase an Australian-made home battery.
The company, in partnership with CSIRO, has developed the SuperHome battery that it plans to introduce to the domestic market within 12 months.
Energy Renaissance chief executive Brian Craighead said the company hoped to scale up production quickly and produce between 10,000 to 20,000 units a year. The figure represents about 15 per cent of annual domestic home battery sales.
He estimated the plant's workforce would grow to more than 500 if the plans for home battery manufacturing were realised.
"We're asking the National Reconstruction Fund to help us fill this with more equipment. With the right amount of equipment, we can shift 10,000 units here, and then we will build another factory."
Mr Craighead said he expected the battery to retail for between the price of a Chinese-made battery and a Tesla battery.
While the solar battery boom will directly benefit consumers, it will also ease the strain on the electricity system in the evenings and keeping a lid on spiking prices.
"It's important to understand that this policy will help reduce the power bills of everyone, not just those who can get solar and a battery," Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said.
"Less demand on the energy grid means fewer price peaks, a win-win for all."
Hunter households are investing in battery systems at an unprecedented rate thanks to new federal government rebates.
After having been at the forefront of Australia's rooftop solar uptake over the past decade, the region is now leading the way with storage systems.
The battery boom follows a $2.3 billion Labor election pledge to cover around 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost for anyone buying a household battery system.
Hunter battery installers have been run off their feet with consumers keen to cash in on the subsidy program, which kicks in from July 1.
"We had about 200 inquiries in the week after the subsidy was announced and it's remained fairly constant since then," Hunter Solar Solutions co-owner Luke Williams said.
There are presently 77 solar batteries on the Australian market.
Prices start at about $4000 for a five-kilowatt-hour battery. Larger 10-kilowatt systems range from $6000 to $10,000.
With the rebate factored in, Mr Williams said most people were investing about $10,000 on 10 to 15 kilowatt hour storage systems. For the average household the investment will pay for itself within three to four years.
Installation times are expected to increase significantly towards the back end of the year.
"We are booking customers from mid-July at this stage. It hasn't blown out yet but once it gets closer to July you will probably be waiting six to eight weeks," Mr Williams said.
"We have a lot of accredited installers on board so we can get through the work as quickly as possible."
About 75 per cent of the world's batteries are manufactured in China, Tomago-based Energy Renaissance last month announced plans to give local consumers the opportunity to purchase an Australian-made home battery.
The company, in partnership with CSIRO, has developed the SuperHome battery that it plans to introduce to the domestic market within 12 months.
Energy Renaissance chief executive Brian Craighead said the company hoped to scale up production quickly and produce between 10,000 to 20,000 units a year. The figure represents about 15 per cent of annual domestic home battery sales.
He estimated the plant's workforce would grow to more than 500 if the plans for home battery manufacturing were realised.
"We're asking the National Reconstruction Fund to help us fill this with more equipment. With the right amount of equipment, we can shift 10,000 units here, and then we will build another factory."
Mr Craighead said he expected the battery to retail for between the price of a Chinese-made battery and a Tesla battery.
While the solar battery boom will directly benefit consumers, it will also ease the strain on the electricity system in the evenings and keeping a lid on spiking prices.
"It's important to understand that this policy will help reduce the power bills of everyone, not just those who can get solar and a battery," Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said.
"Less demand on the energy grid means fewer price peaks, a win-win for all."
Hunter households are investing in battery systems at an unprecedented rate thanks to new federal government rebates.
After having been at the forefront of Australia's rooftop solar uptake over the past decade, the region is now leading the way with storage systems.
The battery boom follows a $2.3 billion Labor election pledge to cover around 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost for anyone buying a household battery system.
Hunter battery installers have been run off their feet with consumers keen to cash in on the subsidy program, which kicks in from July 1.
"We had about 200 inquiries in the week after the subsidy was announced and it's remained fairly constant since then," Hunter Solar Solutions co-owner Luke Williams said.
There are presently 77 solar batteries on the Australian market.
Prices start at about $4000 for a five-kilowatt-hour battery. Larger 10-kilowatt systems range from $6000 to $10,000.
With the rebate factored in, Mr Williams said most people were investing about $10,000 on 10 to 15 kilowatt hour storage systems. For the average household the investment will pay for itself within three to four years.
Installation times are expected to increase significantly towards the back end of the year.
"We are booking customers from mid-July at this stage. It hasn't blown out yet but once it gets closer to July you will probably be waiting six to eight weeks," Mr Williams said.
"We have a lot of accredited installers on board so we can get through the work as quickly as possible."
About 75 per cent of the world's batteries are manufactured in China, Tomago-based Energy Renaissance last month announced plans to give local consumers the opportunity to purchase an Australian-made home battery.
The company, in partnership with CSIRO, has developed the SuperHome battery that it plans to introduce to the domestic market within 12 months.
Energy Renaissance chief executive Brian Craighead said the company hoped to scale up production quickly and produce between 10,000 to 20,000 units a year. The figure represents about 15 per cent of annual domestic home battery sales.
He estimated the plant's workforce would grow to more than 500 if the plans for home battery manufacturing were realised.
"We're asking the National Reconstruction Fund to help us fill this with more equipment. With the right amount of equipment, we can shift 10,000 units here, and then we will build another factory."
Mr Craighead said he expected the battery to retail for between the price of a Chinese-made battery and a Tesla battery.
While the solar battery boom will directly benefit consumers, it will also ease the strain on the electricity system in the evenings and keeping a lid on spiking prices.
"It's important to understand that this policy will help reduce the power bills of everyone, not just those who can get solar and a battery," Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said.
"Less demand on the energy grid means fewer price peaks, a win-win for all."