Solar batteries installed in more than 400 SA homes under new scheme, as Tesla set to join market

Solar batteries are being installed in more than 400 SA homes under the first phase of a plan to cut power bills, as new players including US giant Tesla get set to enter the market.

Susan and Robin Packer at their Lewiston home with their Sonnen battery. Picture: Kelly Barnes/The Australian

Solar batteries are being installed in more than 400 SA homes under the first phase of a State Government plan to cut power bills, as new players including US giant Tesla get set to enter the market.

The $200 million battery scheme is a key plank of the plan Premier Steven Marshall took to the election in March, headlined by a pledge to cut power bills for households by $302 in five years.

The battery scheme was launched in October and offers subsidies of up to $6000 per home for the purchase of a battery to be linked to solar systems. Cheap loans can also be accessed to buy panels.

At first, it was limited to batteries made or assembled in SA, giving German firm Sonnen a significant headstart after it set up a local headquarters on the old Holden site at Elizabeth. Today, the scheme opens up to other competitors.

The State Government has confirmed Tesla, the company headed by US billionaire Elon Musk, that also supplied the “big battery” at Jamestown, will now participate in the SA subsidy scheme.

Figures released on request to The Advertiser show 423 subsidies have already been approved, after 4052 households requested quotes. More than 30,000 people have visited the website to seek information about the scheme.

Mr Marshall aims to have batteries on 40,000 homes.

“The priority period has brought investment, technology and expertise that will bolster the battery value chain in SA for years to come,” Mr Marshall said. “The home battery scheme is bringing cheaper power within reach of hundreds of thousands of South Australians who have solar panels on their homes.

“With a home battery system, households are able to take control of their energy (by) storing the electricity generated from their solar panels for use in the morning and at night, when electricity is at peak demand.”

As well as Tesla batteries, LGChem/Sungrow ones are available under the scheme from today. Already approved are units made by Sonnen, Alpha-ESS and Eguana.

Mr Marshall said it was “fantastic to see such a rapid response to what is one of the key pillars in our strategy to deliver more affordable, reliable and secure energy”.

The State Government’s power plan also includes a new interconnector to NSW, allowing more electricity trading.

The two states have signed a memorandum of understanding, with decisions to come next year. The Opposition has raised fears more interconnection could result in fewer power plants built in SA.