Canberra households with rooftop solar systems can benefit from moves to support the roll-out of solar battery storage systems
Canberra households looking to store solar energy to use during peak energy pricing times in the evening are set to benefit from a $4 million Government allocation to support the roll-out of solar battery storage.
ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury has announced a third round of grants as part of the Government’s $25 million Next Generation Energy Storage program which aims to support the roll-out of around 36 megawatts of energy storage in up to 5,000 Canberra homes and businesses over the next three years.
Under the competitive grants program, companies have until October 19 to prepare submissions seeking grant funding to install subsidised battery storage linked to rooftop solar systems.
This, in turn, leads to discounts on solar battery systems of around $3000-$4,000 for households and businesses, with the winning companies using the grant funding to provide discounts on the costs of battery systems.
Mr Rattenbury said the opening of the third round of grants follows on from strong community and industry interest in the energy storage program which is currently underway and which is funded by the ACT’s large-scale renewable energy projects.
“Battery storage is the next big thing in renewable energy because people can store energy captured from rooftop solar systems and then use it when it’s most cost effective, such as when cooking dinner and heating the house during peak pricing times in the evenings,” Mr Rattenbury said.
Mr Rattenbury said that to date the Next Generation Energy Storage program has seen over 200 batteries installed, with the installation rates forecast to grow rapidly as new technologies come to the market.
“By the end of the year we expect over 1 MW of battery storage to be deployed,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“These will be installed across 200 to 300 households, but this is enough solar power to support over 1,000 Canberra households for several hours at their average hourly electricity demand, even when the sun is not shining.
“The program is currently seeing upfront discounts of around 24 per cent off an average household system, although the grant amount will be competitively assessed through this new grants round.
A solar battery storage system (photo supplied).
“The grants will be tied to investment in the ACT renewable energy industry, with proponents being required to establish an office in Canberra for local sales and support and commit to further investment in the ACT’s fast-growing renewable energy economy,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“Successful proponents from previous grant rounds have contributed research, education and trades development to the Canberra economy, helping us build our reputation as a globally-recognised hub for investment, training and research in renewable energy.”
If you currently have a rooftop solar system is the idea of having solar battery storage attractive to you? Do you think this initiative is economical for householders or will it only be people who are cashed up and strongly committed to environmental practices who can take advantage of it?
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