After previous attempts to slap solar households with unfair charges or the “sun tax”, the AEMC has finally come up with a proposal that looks to the future rather than attempting to maintain the status quo. In a recently released review—“Integrating Distributed Energy Resources for the Grid of the Future”—the AEMC has acknowledged that there is a huge and valuable resource in the amount of rooftop solar DER that Australians have installed.

Meet Tom. His sheep graze under Neoen's Dubbo Solar Farm and he reckons the panels have made the land more productive, especially in the drought.

Whether you already have rooftop solar panels or are thinking about installing them in your home, tech enthusiast Harold thinks you should consider a solar battery system to complement them. 

With solar panels and a solar battery powering their home, Terry and his wife are part of a small but growing community of Australians who are ahead of the energy curve, taking energy production into their own hands.

Solar panels and batteries have seen a surge in popularity over the last decade, as technology rapidly evolves and consumers demand for a clean energy future. With prices dropping and governments injecting financial incentives across Australia, rooftop solar is becoming more of an expectation rather than a luxury choice, and solar batteries aren’t far behind.

So, what’s changed? And why should you invest in a solar battery now?

So, you’re getting a solar battery. You’ve done a ton of research online, made a few calls and chosen a qualified and accredited electrician to install your system. But you’re still confused by the details around solar batteries and want to know more.

Here are six questions you should ask your installer to ensure you’re in the know about your new solar battery system.

Have you been thinking about installing solar batteries in your home?

We live in a time where smart, renewable energy technology is becoming increasingly accessible and affordable.

If you want to boost your energy efficiency and reduce your environmental footprint, there are a few things you should consider before you purchase your solar battery system.

We saw last week that while the Morrison Government still warns against the rapid transition to renewable energy that the market has other plans.

As Australia’s renewables industry continues to boom, the uptake of home solar batteries is slowly on the rise.

If you’re on the fence about getting solar batteries for your home, let us help you make the switch. Here are four reasons why you should invest in this up and coming new technology.

There’s a world of difference between where the major political parties stand on repowering Australia with clean, renewable energy. Over the last 6 years, the Federal Government has attempted to derail the transition by reducing the large-scale Renewable Energy Target (RET), slashing funding for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and trying to stop the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) from funding solar and wind projects.

Now, the booming clean energy industry is facing bust because we still have no national energy policy to provide investment certainty when the RET finishes next year. Australia can’t afford another three years of anti-renewable attacks and energy policy uncertainty – it’s risking thousands of new jobs and billions worth of investment in regional areas.

See how the different parties’ energy policies compare before casting your vote on Saturday.

The Australian Labor Party

The ALP have committed to:

• Implementing a 50% renewable energy by 2030 target via the National Energy Guarantee policy framework;
• Allocating a further $10 billion to the CEFC;
• Creating a $5 billion fund to upgrade transmission infrastructure to allow for the transition;
• Providing a $2,000 rebate for 100,000 households to purchase and install battery systems;
• Establishing community energy hubs to support community renewable energy projects, including in Western Sydney;
• Establishing a Just Transition Authority to assist communities transition;
• Requiring electricity generators give three years notice before closure;
• Implementing a national electric vehicle target of 50% new car sales by 2030 and a government electric vehicle target of 50% of new purchases and leases of passenger motor vehicles by 2025;
• Creating a $200 million fund to roll out charging infrastructure across the country;
• Allocating $1 billion of CEFC funding to support the development of the clean hydrogen industry;
• Investing $3 million to establish a National Hydrogen Innovation Hub in Gladstone;
• Funding $75 million towards apprenticeship incentives and retraining workers for the growing clean energy industry;
• Supporting 4,000 schools become virtual power plants by installing rooftop solar PV.

The Greens

The Greens have committed to:

• Extending the RET to 100% renewable energy by 2030;
• Investing an additional $500 million in ARENA, with a rolling $300 million annual budget;
• Allocating an additional $10 billion in funding to the CEFC;
• Creating a $1.7 billion Clean Energy Export Development Fund;
• Establishing a $6 billion Grid Transformation Fund to build new publicly-owned transmission infrastructure to support the transition;
• Implementing an Energy Storage Target to help meet the total 419 GWh of dispatchable power required by 2030;
• Establishing a $1.2 billion Solar for All program to support landlords and apartment dwellers to install rooftop solar PV on their property or participate in local solar gardens.
• Investing $100 million in an Indigenous and remote communities power fund to assist with the transition;
• Investing $25 million in a community renewables program to support regional and community renewable hubs across the country;
• Creating a Household Solar Storage Scheme to provide household battery storage loans of up to $7,000 per household battery or 15,000 for small businesses;
• Aiming to double energy productivity by 2030;
• Banning new internal combustion vehicles by 2030;
• Creating a $1 billion Clean Energy Transition Fund to support workers to reskill.

The Liberal/National Coalition

At the moment, the LNP have enacted or committed to:

• Building Snowy Hydro 2.0;
• Building a second interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania;
• Helping households and businesses improve energy efficiency as a part of their $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package;
• Developing a National Strategy for Electric Vehicles;
• Funding a $10 million feasibility study into a new coal-fired generator in Queensland;
• Underwriting electricity generation, potentially including new gas generators and an upgrade to the Vales Point coal-fired generator;
• Introducing a default market offer to act as a price safety net for electricity consumers;
• Implementing “big stick” legislation to protect electricity consumers;
• Investing $50.4 million to help regional communities invest in new micro-grids.