5000 homes and businesses have installed batteries under the Australian Capital Territory Government’s Next Generation Energy Storage (Next Gen) program, achieving the target set out seven years ago. Now that the target has been reached, the program will come to a close.
Launched in 2016, the Next Gen program was designed to ignite the Australian Capital Territory’’s battery marketplace and improve access for Canberrans to install a battery.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury, said, “The Next Gen program was launched at a time when energy storage technology was still in its infancy, so the goal of the program was to stimulate a marketplace where Canberrans could access batteries more easily and more affordably.”
Mr Rattenbury said, under the program, the local industry grew from four to over 24 battery installers operating in the Australian Capital Territory. Now, the state has one of the highest domestic battery densities not only in Australia but in the world.
“Now that we have reached our target, the Next Gen program will no longer accept new rebate applications. All currently approved applications in the Next Gen Program will need to have batteries installed by 31 March 2023 to access the rebate. The Australian Capital Territory Government will continue to work with battery installers on any outstanding installations to ensure an appropriate transition following this date,” Mr Rattenbury said.
Households can continue to access State Government support through the Sustainable Household Scheme, which allows homeowners to access zero-interest loans to make sustainable upgrades to their homes, and businesses can access tailored advice and rebates through the Business Energy and Water program.
“We encourage people to continue to shop around for energy storage solutions for their homes. With the number of installers now operating in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberrans will be able to continue to access the most competitive prices,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“Increasing energy storage remains a key priority to maintain a stable and reliable electricity system as we continue to electrify our city. To achieve this goal, in addition to encouraging household batteries, we are also investing in the Big Canberra Battery project which will add an ecosystem of energy storage solutions of different sizes to the Australian Capital Territory’s electricity grid, from large-scale batteries to neighbourhood-scale batteries to help power Canberra homes and businesses.”
For more information on the changes to Next Gen and other rebates and incentives, visit the Everyday Climate Choices website.
