Latest news with #JonBriskin
Sydney Morning Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia is on the cusp of a home battery boom
Australia is approaching an unprecedented boom in household battery uptake as installers report a post-election surge of home owners eager to seize new federal government rebates that will slash thousands of dollars off the upfront cost. In the run-up to the May 3 election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to set aside $2.3 billion to cover around 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost for anyone buying a household battery system that can stash power generated from their rooftop solar panels. Electricity giant Origin Energy, which owns Australian quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, said enquiries about purchasing home batteries had rocketed since Labor's re-election locked in the subsidy program, which kicks in from July 1 and will not be limited by the purchaser's income. 'In the month to date, Origin and SolarQuotes saw a remarkable 250 per cent increase in home battery enquiries,' Origin executive general manager of retail Jon Briskin said. Australia is a world leader in per-person solar uptake, with more than 4 million homes – or one in three – now fitted with rooftop solar panels. However, just one in 40 also has a battery, which has led to a significant problem: all those solar panels are making far too much electricity in the middle of the day when the sun is brightest, and hardly any when people return home, turn on their lights and fire up appliances. SolarGain, a major solar and battery storage provider with 23 stores nationally, confirmed that enquiries about home batteries had doubled across its network. Enquiry volumes at specific outlets were up to 400 per cent higher than previous levels, it said. Home-owners were eager to produce and use their own electricity as much as possible as a way to lessen their reliance on the grid, and cut their exposure to higher prices and network outages, SolarGain Victorian business development manager Will Haydon said. 'People want to separate from the grid,' he said. 'Now they have an opportunity to store their excess power with a much quicker return on their investment.'
The Age
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Australia is on the cusp of a home battery boom
Australia is approaching an unprecedented boom in household battery uptake as installers report a post-election surge of home owners eager to seize new federal government rebates that will slash thousands of dollars off the upfront cost. In the run-up to the May 3 election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to set aside $2.3 billion to cover around 30 per cent of the purchase and installation cost for anyone buying a household battery system that can stash power generated from their rooftop solar panels. Electricity giant Origin Energy, which owns Australian quote-comparison service SolarQuotes, said enquiries about purchasing home batteries had rocketed since Labor's re-election locked in the subsidy program, which kicks in from July 1 and will not be limited by the purchaser's income. 'In the month to date, Origin and SolarQuotes saw a remarkable 250 per cent increase in home battery enquiries,' Origin executive general manager of retail Jon Briskin said. Australia is a world leader in per-person solar uptake, with more than 4 million homes – or one in three – now fitted with rooftop solar panels. However, just one in 40 also has a battery, which has led to a significant problem: all those solar panels are making far too much electricity in the middle of the day when the sun is brightest, and hardly any when people return home, turn on their lights and fire up appliances. SolarGain, a major solar and battery storage provider with 23 stores nationally, confirmed that enquiries about home batteries had doubled across its network. Enquiry volumes at specific outlets were up to 400 per cent higher than previous levels, it said. Home-owners were eager to produce and use their own electricity as much as possible as a way to lessen their reliance on the grid, and cut their exposure to higher prices and network outages, SolarGain Victorian business development manager Will Haydon said. 'People want to separate from the grid,' he said. 'Now they have an opportunity to store their excess power with a much quicker return on their investment.'
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Aussies tipped to spend $80bn to save on power bills
Households are spending billions in upgrading to more sustainable and energy-efficient products, but it is an investment to lower their electricity bills over environmental concerns. A report released by REA Group with Origin found that half of Australians are looking to make their homes more sustainable, as they see it as a way of saving on their electricity bills. When homeowners were asked the reasons why they would switch to more energy-efficient appliances, 68 per cent said it was due to cost of living and the price of energy, outweighing the 55 per cent who cited environmental concerns. But saving money on their power bills will come at a huge cost over the short term, with the average household planning to spend $7,50 on energy-efficient improvements over the next five years, signalling a potential spend of more than $80bn nationwide. REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh said the rising cost of living had placed affordability at the forefront of household concerns, with homeowners and renters seeking solutions to reduce energy bills. 'Making the switch to all-electric appliances in the home could help save costs, reduce energy use and lower carbon emissions,' she said. 'Yet, upfront costs and knowledge gaps are significant barriers preventing many from adopting energy-efficient features.' Just shy of two in three respondents said property owners should be responsible for improving energy efficiency in established homes, while about half put some of the onus on either the federal or state government. The findings follow the quarterly consumer price index data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that showed quarterly growth in housing was driven by a spike in electricity prices, which were up 16.3 per cent. The rise was driven by increased electricity prices in Brisbane, where most households have used up the $1000 Queensland state government electricity rebate. resulting in higher out-of-pocket electricity costs. The report also found that only 34 per cent of respondents had a good understanding of the benefits of 'electrification', a term that those under the age of 35 knew least about. Origin retail executive general manager Jon Briskin said while saving money was a huge motivator for Australians, many didn't know where to start. 'Small changes to energy habits and upgrading to more efficient appliances within their budget is a good starting point for many households,' he said. Ms Creagh said Aussies with a greater understanding of energy-efficient appliances were more likely to convert their property to electricity compared with those with no knowledge. 'It's clear that people with a good understanding of energy efficiency are more likely to make upgrades to their home and alter their behaviour to reduce energy use. This indicates that wider education is crucial to improving energy efficiency across Australia,' she said.
