Six companies have received grants to support the rollout of solar battery storage in Canberra homes and businesses.
A range of proposals were received from local and national businesses for the third stage of the Next Generation Energy Storage grants program.
ActewAGL Retail, Harvey Norman Commercial Division, ITP Home Energy, Power Saving Centre, Solargain and SolarHub were successful in receiving funds under the program.
A further two companies, EPC Solar and Evergen, will continue to operate under the program.
Homes and businesses who install a battery connected to a new or existing solar system will receive support of up to $825 for each kilowatt (kW) of sustained peak output, or around $4000 for an average household system.
ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, said the grants form part of the ACT Government’s plan to support the rollout of up to 36 megawatts (MW) of distributed battery storage in up to 5000 ACT homes and businesses by 2020.
“The battery storage rollout program is building on Canberra’s reputation as a globally-recognised hub for the renewable energy industry. Detailed data is being collected from all batteries installed under the program which will inform research and industry development,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“The batteries are also contributing to the world’s largest residential virtual power plant being trialed by Reposit Power and EvoEnergy (formerly ActewAGL Distribution), which allows battery owners to sell their energy to the grid to help support the electricity network.
“There is now over one megawatt of energy storage installed under the program, and this figure is expected to increase rapidly in the coming year. This is in addition to the Territory’s considerable solar generation, which has now reached 100MW, and includes three of the country’s largest solar farms at Royalla, Mugga Lane and Williamsdale, and the solar installed on ACT rooftops.
“Rooftop solar generation continues to expand under retailer supported schemes. Householders with solar and batteries are helping reduce Canberra’s vulnerability to summer peak energy demand while we transition to 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2020 and net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.”
