Queensland solar homes want rapid uptake of batteries to power homes for longer: new survey
Home battery storage is set to revolutionise the way homes and cars get their energy, and Queensland’s solar homeowners want their state to lead the charge.
A survey released today of nearly 700 solar owners in Queensland found 92% of people want the State Government to introduce a support program to kick start the battery storage industry in the state.
Queensland solar homeowners also want to see:
- a fair feed-in price for solar generated on their rooftops exported to the grid and
- an end to the increasing network charges that help make Australian electricity bills amongst the highest in the world.
Solar Citizens Consumer Campaigner Reece Turner said solar homeowners see solar batteries, coupled with rooftop PV, as an exciting opportunity to generate clean power and save on bills -- it is time Government did the same.
“The Queensland survey confirms the thinking of global companies like Tesla and Panasonic that there is a huge demand for connecting solar panels with home batteries for power storage,” Mr Turner said today.
“There are more than 1.4 million homes that have installed rooftop solar to help with the cost of living and there are positive predictions that as prices fall, they will be a key market for solar storage.
“A recent Climate Council Report predicts Australia's installed battery capacity will grow 50-fold within 10 years, with half of all households to have battery storage, and many using their solar arrays to charge their electric vehicles.
“Solar Citizens is calling on the Queensland Government to support this bright future with policy that encourages the take-up of household batteries to complement the Sunshine State's leading position as Australia's solar rooftop leader.
“The Palaszczuk Government has already committed to 1 million solar rooftops in QLD by 2020. It would be incredible if they could match this with support for every one of those homes to invest in home battery storage as well.
“By using clean energy from the wind and sun, we can create healthy cities and towns, good jobs and smart investments - and a happy surprise when we open our power bills,” Mr Turner said.
View survey results and methodology here: https://drive.google.com/a/solarcitizens.org.au/file/d/0B9kNVP3oyB-ceGJPN25CeGl1R3c/view?usp=sharing
Media contact: Siobhan Lyttle 0432 828 004
