Solar energy, and how to store it, is the talk of Jon Coffey’s neighbourhood.
Walking around Thornlands, south-east of Brisbane, he sees rooftop solar on more than half of the roofs.
“When I’m talking to my neighbours and friends, they are also increasingly frustrated, angry even, about what they see as a lack of action to help them manage electricity prices to their betterment,” he said.
“The power bill just keeps going up.”
Mr Coffey wants to install a battery system so he can store the solar power output when he’s “not at home in the middle of the day”.
“Put it into a battery, then draw down on that in the evening hours when I’m there and my wife’s there, and we can use that to make some real savings.”
But Mr Coffey said he is “looking at nearly $20,000” to buy and install a battery at his place, and believes the government should step in to help.
According to consumer group Choice, batteries cost between $6500 and $16,000, depending on size and make.
More than a million rooftop solar systems in the sunshine state
Last year, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) CEO Daniel Westermen said the 3.5 million rooftop solar systems across Australia – surging when the sun shines and dropping off when it sets – could pose risks to grid stability.
The midday surge also threatens to overwhelm low-voltage wire networks.
“I am just so annoyed that the government is not willing to help me do this,” Mr Coffey said.
“The government, the electricity operators and AEMO are telling everyone loud and clear that the grid is in danger of falling over because of the amount of solar power that is being pumped into it in the middle of the day.”
More than a million of Australia’s rooftop solar systems are in Queensland – the most of any state in the country.
In February, the state government announced a means-tested fund giving 2000 Queenslanders up to $4000 off the cost of a battery, but the program ended in May.
The federal government is offering a tax reduction of up to $3500 for people who install a battery, but that program does not offer a deduction on the price of the battery itself.
Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said the home battery subsidy program would be evaluated to “inform further government consideration of additional support for households to adopt technology to lower bills and reduce emissions”.
The Queensland Opposition did not directly respond to questions about whether it had plans to subsidise the cost of home batteries for people to capture solar power during the day.
‘The cost benefit is becoming increasingly marginal’
Dr Asma Aziz, an expert in renewable energy at Edith Cowan University, said while the cost of batteries is coming down, it is still prohibiting many from investing in the technology.
“Other than the cost, there are many other factors, like tariff and proper selection,” she said.
“People don’t have the knowledge in terms of how to select the batteries.”
The Australian Energy Market Commission estimates the average consumer will take 7.5 years to pay off their battery with solar savings.
Mr Coffey sees it as money lost by consumers who were encouraged to put solar on their roofs.
“Why does the average consumer have to keep bearing the burden?” he asked.
“It’s getting super expensive to have a PV (photovoltaic) system, but I’m not getting any help from the government to permit me to use that system to its fullest benefit, whilst helping the government and AEMO and electricity retailers manage the grid.
“The cost benefit is becoming increasingly marginal.”
He said he’d like to see the government pick up half the bill for buying and installing batteries in Queensland homes.
Dr Aziz agreed, saying the government should come to the party.
“We need storage and we need diverse technology and we need different durations of storage,” she said.
“The technology is there… but government needs to provide more support for these types of technologies.”
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I’d like to see Govt in Australia subsidise battery’s . So many people would get battery’s and protect the grid from overload
We live in NSW with Solar Hot Water + 20 Solar panels & decided in February to get a battery $16,000 which meant we would not be able to afford a holiday this year or perhaps the next few years. We had already cut costs by cutting out our Private Health cover. I am hoping that if govt’s do subsidies batteries they will allow for those who have already connected them. Not that our battery experience has been very good up to now. As neither my husband nor I have a mobile phone (we weren’t told that you need one so you can use the app to adjust your use etc. although they did know we didn’t have mobile’s ) they do not have the app for a laptop so we have no idea when they are taking the electricity. Be aware people when you decide to get a battery. We didn’t have a bill before we obtained the battery and have now had 2 small bills. Plus we did as they suggested – use dishwasher, washing machine etc between 10 am & 2 pm (which was a nuisance some days & never had to do that before)
Here we have the “gim me, gim me” attitude. Why does anyone really think that the Government should give them even a cent towards a home battery installation? It is very probable that Mr Coffey has already leeched off the general public with the subsidy that paid up to 50% of the cost of his existing solar system and the FIT that he’s been receiving.
The State Government encouraged the take up of the subsidised solar systems with unrealistic FITs so that they could avoid the responsibility of building sufficient generation capacity with new coal burning power stations years ago.
I hope that those wishing for a home battery have been aware of the recalls of batteries from a major supplier due to risk of fire as the battery fails.
If the user deep cycles their battery bank on a daily basis, it is likely that the realistic life will be less than 10 years and don’t count on the promised drops in the prices of the new generation batteries while the costs of supplied power increase.
It is the renewable subsidies that are going to both the large scale wind and solar facilities as well as the domestic and industrial installations that are driving the increases in our power bills.
A responsible and sensible Government would ditch the wind and solar boondoggles and get back to reliable and affordable coal and gas power stations as soon as possible.