Aussies urged to charge ahead with household batteries
Australia could slash $4 billion a year off power bills by the end of the decade if households embrace solar batteries in larger numbers, a report forecasts.
The Climate Council issued the prediction on Tuesday, finding the savings were possible if half of all homes with solar panels installed added batteries by 2030.
But progress could also get a bigger boost from allowing more electric vehicles to charge up the national grid, if solar battery prices continued to fall, and if all new households were designed for rooftop solar and battery systems, it found.
The report comes amid heightened demand for home batteries after the announcement of a $2.3 billion federal government scheme to subsidise their purchase by 30 per cent from July.
The Climate Council report, called Battery Boom, found about 300,000 (eight per cent) of the four million Australian households with solar panels used batteries to store energy.
If that figure was lifted to reach two million homes by 2030 - half of those with rooftop solar panels currently installed - household energy bill savings could hit $4 billion a year.
Electricity bill savings could rise from $1500 with solar panels to $2300 a year after installing a battery, Climate Council spokesman Greg Bourne said, although further support would be needed to help some families deal with the up-front cost.
"Batteries haven't penetrated far enough into those four million (solar) households, but it makes a huge difference when you start picking up the sunshine from midday and time-shifting it to when high cost of electricity comes in," he told AAP.
"It will start as word-of-mouth in the neighbourhood and talk of 'my bill's half of what it was' or 'my bills are a quarter of what they were because we put a battery in' and that's part of the education process."
A typical household battery is expected to cover its cost within 8.3 years without the upcoming subsidy, the report found, down from 10 years in 2022.
The Climate Council report also found big battery storage projects planned for Australia had doubled over the past year to reach 20 gigawatts, and the price of large energy storage had fallen by 20 per cent.
On a state-by-state basis, Western Australia led the nation for the most big battery projects with eight installed, Victoria boasted the most community solar batteries, and the Northern Territory had the most homes with solar batteries installed at 15.9 per cent.
Battery storage could also get a significant boost from compatible electric vehicles, Mr Bourne said, as more vehicle-to-grid chargers were standardised and sold in Australia.
Other recommendations in the report to boost battery storage included adding rooftop solar and storage capacity to the National Construction Code, expanding support for community batteries, and strengthening on-shore battery recycling schemes.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Minister says he is optimistic about Tomago Aluminium's future, despite increasing energy prices
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The Australian Financial Review has reported that current talks are focused on the smelter's electricity contract for 2026 to 2029 and the design of the federal government's production tax credits. Mr Ayres, who is due to visit the smelter on Friday, said he was unable to comment about discussions between Tomago and its energy provider, AGL. Tomago and its part-owner, Rio Tinto, have also declined to comment about the talks. Mr Ayres said governments and industry needed to work collaboratively on the challenges facing the energy-intensive aluminium sector. "I'm optimistic about its future, but I'm not complacent; everybody's got a part to play here. I've got a role to play, the Commonwealth government and NSW government, the electricity suppliers, Tomago themselves and the supply chain around them," he said. "We've all got a common interest in a shared vision for what is a core industrial asset for the Hunter Valley and a core part of the region's economic future." The government pledged $2 billion in production tax credits in January for Australia's four aluminium smelters: Tomago, Bell Bay, Boyne and Victoria's Portland, which is operated by Alcoa, to help with the energy transition. Mr Ayres acknowledged more work was needed to realise the initiative's goal. "We've got vast solar and wind resources and a government that has stepped in with a production credit to make sure that local aluminium production is competitive globally," he said. "We are fully engaged; the decision (about production credits) has been made, and it's of vast scale. Of course, we're going to keep working with the sector on design and make sure it delivers the outcome and the impact that it's designed to do." The government estimates the Australian-made aluminium sector will grow from $5.1 billion to $6 billion per year in revenue by 2050. A 2023 Accenture report showed a thriving future metals industry could deliver up to $122 billion a year in export revenue to Australia's economy by 2040. Newly appointed industry minister Tim Ayres said he is optimistic about the ongoing viability and future of Tomago Aluminium, but acknowledged governments must work with industry to meet the challenges of the clean energy transition. It follows reports that the smelter, which employs 1500 people and supports an extra 5000 across the region, is in talks to secure billions of dollars in support from the NSW and federal governments to help it manage rising energy costs. Tomago chief executive Jerome Dozol warned last November that high energy prices were putting the plant's future in jeopardy and called for urgent action to secure its continued operation. The smelter produces about 600,000 tonnes of aluminium, which requires a constant power supply of 950 megawatts, or about 12 per cent of the state's power. It has committed to shifting as close as possible to running on renewable energy by 2035, but the company has also stated that it will need certainty of supply to achieve the goal. The Australian Financial Review has reported that current talks are focused on the smelter's electricity contract for 2026 to 2029 and the design of the federal government's production tax credits. Mr Ayres, who is due to visit the smelter on Friday, said he was unable to comment about discussions between Tomago and its energy provider, AGL. Tomago and its part-owner, Rio Tinto, have also declined to comment about the talks. Mr Ayres said governments and industry needed to work collaboratively on the challenges facing the energy-intensive aluminium sector. "I'm optimistic about its future, but I'm not complacent; everybody's got a part to play here. I've got a role to play, the Commonwealth government and NSW government, the electricity suppliers, Tomago themselves and the supply chain around them," he said. "We've all got a common interest in a shared vision for what is a core industrial asset for the Hunter Valley and a core part of the region's economic future." The government pledged $2 billion in production tax credits in January for Australia's four aluminium smelters: Tomago, Bell Bay, Boyne and Victoria's Portland, which is operated by Alcoa, to help with the energy transition. Mr Ayres acknowledged more work was needed to realise the initiative's goal. "We've got vast solar and wind resources and a government that has stepped in with a production credit to make sure that local aluminium production is competitive globally," he said. "We are fully engaged; the decision (about production credits) has been made, and it's of vast scale. Of course, we're going to keep working with the sector on design and make sure it delivers the outcome and the impact that it's designed to do." The government estimates the Australian-made aluminium sector will grow from $5.1 billion to $6 billion per year in revenue by 2050. A 2023 Accenture report showed a thriving future metals industry could deliver up to $122 billion a year in export revenue to Australia's economy by 2040. Newly appointed industry minister Tim Ayres said he is optimistic about the ongoing viability and future of Tomago Aluminium, but acknowledged governments must work with industry to meet the challenges of the clean energy transition. It follows reports that the smelter, which employs 1500 people and supports an extra 5000 across the region, is in talks to secure billions of dollars in support from the NSW and federal governments to help it manage rising energy costs. Tomago chief executive Jerome Dozol warned last November that high energy prices were putting the plant's future in jeopardy and called for urgent action to secure its continued operation. The smelter produces about 600,000 tonnes of aluminium, which requires a constant power supply of 950 megawatts, or about 12 per cent of the state's power. It has committed to shifting as close as possible to running on renewable energy by 2035, but the company has also stated that it will need certainty of supply to achieve the goal. The Australian Financial Review has reported that current talks are focused on the smelter's electricity contract for 2026 to 2029 and the design of the federal government's production tax credits. Mr Ayres, who is due to visit the smelter on Friday, said he was unable to comment about discussions between Tomago and its energy provider, AGL. Tomago and its part-owner, Rio Tinto, have also declined to comment about the talks. Mr Ayres said governments and industry needed to work collaboratively on the challenges facing the energy-intensive aluminium sector. "I'm optimistic about its future, but I'm not complacent; everybody's got a part to play here. I've got a role to play, the Commonwealth government and NSW government, the electricity suppliers, Tomago themselves and the supply chain around them," he said. "We've all got a common interest in a shared vision for what is a core industrial asset for the Hunter Valley and a core part of the region's economic future." The government pledged $2 billion in production tax credits in January for Australia's four aluminium smelters: Tomago, Bell Bay, Boyne and Victoria's Portland, which is operated by Alcoa, to help with the energy transition. Mr Ayres acknowledged more work was needed to realise the initiative's goal. "We've got vast solar and wind resources and a government that has stepped in with a production credit to make sure that local aluminium production is competitive globally," he said. "We are fully engaged; the decision (about production credits) has been made, and it's of vast scale. Of course, we're going to keep working with the sector on design and make sure it delivers the outcome and the impact that it's designed to do." The government estimates the Australian-made aluminium sector will grow from $5.1 billion to $6 billion per year in revenue by 2050. A 2023 Accenture report showed a thriving future metals industry could deliver up to $122 billion a year in export revenue to Australia's economy by 2040. Newly appointed industry minister Tim Ayres said he is optimistic about the ongoing viability and future of Tomago Aluminium, but acknowledged governments must work with industry to meet the challenges of the clean energy transition. It follows reports that the smelter, which employs 1500 people and supports an extra 5000 across the region, is in talks to secure billions of dollars in support from the NSW and federal governments to help it manage rising energy costs. Tomago chief executive Jerome Dozol warned last November that high energy prices were putting the plant's future in jeopardy and called for urgent action to secure its continued operation. The smelter produces about 600,000 tonnes of aluminium, which requires a constant power supply of 950 megawatts, or about 12 per cent of the state's power. It has committed to shifting as close as possible to running on renewable energy by 2035, but the company has also stated that it will need certainty of supply to achieve the goal. The Australian Financial Review has reported that current talks are focused on the smelter's electricity contract for 2026 to 2029 and the design of the federal government's production tax credits. Mr Ayres, who is due to visit the smelter on Friday, said he was unable to comment about discussions between Tomago and its energy provider, AGL. Tomago and its part-owner, Rio Tinto, have also declined to comment about the talks. Mr Ayres said governments and industry needed to work collaboratively on the challenges facing the energy-intensive aluminium sector. "I'm optimistic about its future, but I'm not complacent; everybody's got a part to play here. I've got a role to play, the Commonwealth government and NSW government, the electricity suppliers, Tomago themselves and the supply chain around them," he said. "We've all got a common interest in a shared vision for what is a core industrial asset for the Hunter Valley and a core part of the region's economic future." The government pledged $2 billion in production tax credits in January for Australia's four aluminium smelters: Tomago, Bell Bay, Boyne and Victoria's Portland, which is operated by Alcoa, to help with the energy transition. Mr Ayres acknowledged more work was needed to realise the initiative's goal. "We've got vast solar and wind resources and a government that has stepped in with a production credit to make sure that local aluminium production is competitive globally," he said. "We are fully engaged; the decision (about production credits) has been made, and it's of vast scale. Of course, we're going to keep working with the sector on design and make sure it delivers the outcome and the impact that it's designed to do." The government estimates the Australian-made aluminium sector will grow from $5.1 billion to $6 billion per year in revenue by 2050. A 2023 Accenture report showed a thriving future metals industry could deliver up to $122 billion a year in export revenue to Australia's economy by 2040.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
New implant gets country music fan on the road again
Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did." Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did." Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did." Jenny Young was in her late 40s when her audiologist told her she would need hearing aids. Phone conversations were hard, she needed friends and family to repeat themselves and she increasingly skipped the country music shows she'd always loved. "It was muffled. The words weren't clear, so I just gave up because I didn't know what song was coming on," Ms Young, now 58, told AAP. She initially ignored her audiologist's advice until life became too difficult. "Sometimes you felt excluded, and you tended to exclude yourself because you weren't quite sure what was said, and you didn't want to pop in and embarrass yourself," Ms Young said. After mixed results with hearing aids, her audiologist suggested her for a trial of Cochlear's latest implant, the 8th generation of the device which directly stimulates the auditory nerve, compared to hearing aids which amplify sound. Cochlear's Nucleus Nexa System, launched in Australia on Wednesday, is the first of its kind with upgradeable firmware and internal memory within the implant. The memory allowed users to store their personal hearing settings on the implant, while upgrades could improve the way the auditory nerve was stimulated, implant program director Robert Briggs said. "That's a big change, and in the longer run we're hoping new stimulation strategies will allow better clarity and of hearing and better speech understanding," Profesor Briggs told AAP. The new device was developed over a decade with the help of Cochlear's 600-strong research and development teams across six global centres. One in six Australians, or 3.6 million people, suffer from some form of hearing loss. Cochlear has provided more than 750,000 hearing implants to people around the world over four decades, and helped children born deaf to hear for the first time. When Ms Young first had the implant, she said interpreting the signals was like learning a new language. "To me it sounded like a lot of magpies talking all at once in my head," she said. But with time and a little patience from friends and family, she was soon back where she wanted to be. "Six weeks after I got my implant, I went to the Deni Ute Muster in the front row and watched my country music," she said. "So it has given me back my social aspect, my confidence ... It's just given me a new lease for life." Her hearing journey has been long and difficult at times, but she urged anyone noticing changes to get checked. "I just want to suggest anybody that has trouble hearing or think they're having a difficulty - get onto it," she said. "Seek help early, because it is life-changing and it improves the quality of life; emotionally, mentally, socially. "Don't sit back like I did."
