Solar storage home battery system sales rise in wake of power price hikes: report

THOUSANDS of households are installing solar energy storage battery systems to cut power bills and give electricity companies the “middle finger”.

HOUSEHOLDS desperate to protect themselves from electricity price spikes are installing batteries to store solar power at rapidly rising rates.

About 7000 home battery systems were sold across Australia in the first half of this year — compared with 6500 for all of last year — a solar energy report estimates.

Batteries allow solar panelled homes to draw on stored energy at night when the sun is not shining, reducing reliance on the grid.

“It’s a way to give the middle finger to electricity companies,” SunWiz founder and report author Warwick Johnston said.

RELATED: FAMILY AVOIDS POWER BILLS FOR 21 YEARS

FAN POWER TO LIGHT UP THE MCG

SOLAR POWER TRAMS FOR MELBOURNE

Trevor Kay has installed a battery system at his Melton home. Picture: Jay Town

Victoria was the third-fastest hotspot with 12 per cent of installations, behind New South Wales and Queensland.

While the market had already doubled in two years, Mr Johnston said households were holding off until batteries became more affordable.

Typical costs now were $4500 to $12,000, depending on size. Currently in Melbourne, it takes about eight years to a decade for a combined battery and new solar panel system to pay for itself through lower power bills.

“It’s not economically viable for most people yet but that will soon change,” Mr Johnston said.

“There are predictions we are going to see the price coming down by 30 per cent in the next three years with more scale of operation and innovation.

“It’s like digital cameras. They were once the realm of the ultra rich, and now everyone has one on their phone.”

About half of all solar panel customers were expected to have batteries by 2030.

Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly sold in Australia.

Retired IT worker Trevor Kay, of Melton, has invested about $20,000 in solar panels, a large lead acid battery system and inverters in recent years.

Trevor Kay says his battery system is a long-term investment worth the money. Picture: Jay Town

“I could see the price of electricity was going to keep increasing and this was the only way to slow that down,” Mr Kay said.

“Now in summer I can be pretty much self-sufficient and still be running the airconditioner.

“I expect it will take 14 years to recoup all the money. It is worth it in the long term, and I am also doing my bit for the environment.”

[e-mail]

@KarenCollierHS