Net Zero are definitely the buzz words these days and while industry pursues that goal it’s also on the agenda of homeowners. And battery storage is key.
It’s part of what is now known as Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS, and one application helps store power generated from clean energy like solar photovoltaic or even wind till its needed.
BESS means being able to tap power that was generated some time ago when the sun was out or the wind blowing. It’s now becoming a crucial part of minimising energy waste to make our homes more efficient.
It’s definitely a market on the move, with predictions it will generate an estimated $5.4B in 2023 to $17.5B in 2028. Capacity will jump too, with global BESS capacity set to increase ten-fold by 2030.
Australia leads the world on roof top solar of course, with more that 1 in 3 homes with panels on their roofs generating nearly 10% of the country’s electricity. And there’s a lot more room to grow. Despite doubling in just 4 years, they still only cover about 10% per cent of the country’s estimated usable roof area.
But home solar panels are increasingly being seen as just part of what it will take to get the domestic market to Net Zero, particularly as feed in energy tariffs have continued to fall.
Home batteries don’t come cheap and generally start around $10,000, but industry experts say that cost is recouped in 5 to 6 years. One homeowner recently highlighted on Channel 7 said his solar rooftop/battery network was saving him about $4,000 a year on average.
There can be quite a bit of complexity in how the country handles clean energy generation and battery storage, particularly in the commercial market, but Australian governments have recently agreed on the need for a national roadmap. This is expected to set clear rules for integrating into the grid what is called “Consumer Energy Resources” or CER, which include batteries, electric vehicles and rooftop solar.
Battery companies say they’re now seeing a big uptick in home sales while solar companies say people are investing in even bigger rooftop hardware as prices for panels keep falling. Homes will never get us to Net Zero on they’re own, but they’re definitely opening the door.