Aussie households to be world leaders on home batteries under ALP’s policy pledge

The Climate Council Media Release

Australia could add another gold trophy to its renewable energy cabinet, and become a world leader in home batteries and rooftop solar, if the Federal Government’s $2.3 billion election pledge to help a million more Australians households and businesses install batteries is realised.

The program would:

• Lead to more than a million more batteries in the next five years, starting July 1.
• Help more than a million households and businesses save 30% on a new battery and reap the rewards of vastly reduced power bills.
• Cut climate pollution by millions of tonnes to protect our kids.
• Make our electricity grid more reliable and secure, by reducing pressure at key times.

Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, said: “This is Australia’s time to shine! We are the sunniest country in the world with more than 40% of our power coming from renewables. Batteries allow us to soak up that clean power when it’s abundant and use it whenever we need it.

“Australians have been crying out for cost-of-living relief, and this policy would permanently lower people’s power bills. Batteries will be about 30% cheaper allowing many more households to access the technology. More batteries will also take pressure off the main grid at key times. Importantly, the ALP has committed to get this started from July.”

“This is what Australians are looking for: solutions that cut power bills and cut climate pollution. We have already been voting with our rooftops, and polling shows that one in two Aussies also want to install home batteries too.”

“Labor’s pledge will make batteries more accessible to more people right away. It is a fantastic initiative which is a win-win: cutting bills and cutting climate pollution. This policy is a stark contrast to the Federal Liberal-National Coalition that hasn’t announced a single policy to cut climate pollution or any policies to improve Australians access to clean power.

Climate Councillor and energy expert, Greg Bourne, said: “Battery storage is the next step in building a 21st century energy system powered by the sun and wind. One in two families have told us they’re keen to get batteries but the upfront cost is a barrier, so this plan smashes that hurdle.

“Labor’s battery plan can get clean power into the hands of more Australians in a few months. But, the Federal Coalition’s energy schemes will all take years, if not decades, to be realised, while unleashing billions more tonnes of dangerous climate pollution.”

“We currently install 25,000 solar systems a month: so imagine if we start doing the same with household batteries too. Australia is already a world champion in solar, so let’s get on with adding millions of batteries, too, and a new trophy to our cabinet.”

The Climate Council calls on all political parties to match the ALP’s policy commitment before the election. Our analysis shows it is possible to double the number of households and businesses with rooftop solar (by adding another 4 million by 2030) and backing this up with two million more household-level batteries, as well as a further 5000 community-level batteries. This analysis confirms then that this announcement is practical and achievable.

Facts and figures

• Australia is already a global leader in rooftop solar with more than four million Australian households harvesting the sun, and saving an average of $1500 per year on their power bills. This is more rooftop solar panels per person than anywhere else in the world.
• Of those households, more than 186,000 also have a household battery that can soak up excess solar power during the day to be used at other times.
• The government estimates that by making batteries 30% cheaper this will lead to more than one million new home batteries installed between now and 2030.
• In 2024, we saw a 60% growth in home battery sales compared to the previous year. This policy will make batteries far more accessible.
• The ALP’s policy is estimated to double the power bill savings for families with solar, as well as put downward pressure on energy prices across the nation by reducing pressure on the grid.
• The Climate Council’s national polling (conducted in September 2024) showed one in two Australian households would consider getting a household battery, and 47% cited upfront costs as a key barrier.

 

Dear reader, we need your support

Independent sites such as The AIMN provide a platform for public interest journalists. From its humble beginning in January 2013, The AIMN has grown into one of the most trusted and popular independent media organisations.

One of the reasons we have succeeded has been due to the support we receive from our readers through their financial contributions.

With increasing costs to maintain The AIMN, we need this continued support.

Your donation – large or small – to help with the running costs of this site will be greatly appreciated.

You can donate through PayPal or credit card via the button below, or donate via bank transfer: BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969