Small-scale solar power is critical in Australia’s transition to a clean energy future.
Australia already has one of the highest uptakes of rooftop solar panels globally, and renewable energy can account for up to half of the power supplied to the national energy grid during peak periods.
The uptake of solar is happening at a grassroots level.
Many thousands of individual households and businesses have done their research and chosen to install private solar power systems on their properties.
The growth of Australia’s renewable energy industry has continued strongly, with the Clean Energy Council’s Clean Energy Australia 2021 Report indicating that in 2020, more than a quarter of Australia’s total energy generation came from renewable sources for the first time.
Much of this renewable energy came from the small-scale solar sector, which added more than 3 GW of new capacity that year, marking a fourth straight record-breaking year.
As reported in October, controversial plans by the Australian Energy Market Commission, or AEMC, to charge solar households for exporting power back into the grid were scaled back earlier in the year to help protect the investments of private solar system owners.
The commission’s initial draft determination addressed the issue of “traffic jams” within the power network, which can occur during peak times when energy is being exported back to the grid.
The proposed reforms were designed to change distribution network incentives and help users send power back to the grid more effectively.
The reforms also introduced the idea of two-way pricing, where users could be rewarded for sending power to the grid when it is needed and charged for sending power back when the system is busy.
The initial proposal received significant pushback from lobbyists and consumers.
This resulted in an updated package that allowed power networks to offer private solar power users a range of options, including a free basic service, to encourage users to limit solar waste, save money, and support the grid.
“We’ve listened to the feedback we have received and have tightened protections for consumers to increase certainty,” AEMC Chief Executive Ben Barr said.
“This means that networks will have to offer a free basic service alongside any paid solar export plans, so people won’t have to pay if they don’t want to.”
While the reforms help protect solar households from being charged for exporting power back to the grid, Australia’s energy landscape has changed dramatically.
In the past, small-scale rooftop solar power systems made sense for many private households on their own.
However, as energy demands and costs increase, and technology continues to improve, fully integrated solar power systems with batteries are becoming the smarter long-term solution.
The ability to capture as much solar energy as possible during sunny periods and then store a portion of that energy for later use when the sun is not shining is a practical and powerful advantage.
Not only does adding a battery reduce reliance on the traditional power grid, it can also help users increase the value and profitability of their solar system.
Smart Energy Answers has partnered with selected smart energy retailers to help solar users capitalise on their investments.
These solutions can help users sell solar-generated power back to the grid at the optimum time to maximise returns.
Our smart batteries, together with Virtual Power Plant, or VPP, solutions, can offer users premium solar feed-in tariffs, profit sharing on energy trading, or credits for participating.
With a new Tesla Powerwall installation from 1 December, eligible customers can receive a $2,000 upfront credit when signing up with one of the smart energy retailer VPPs.
With an Alpha battery installation, customers may be eligible for $1,300 in credits over time.
Users can monitor and manage their account and check usage data online at any time using an intuitive smartphone app.
Choosing a battery and solar power system that perfectly matches your needs is very important.
Ask for a tailored consultation to learn which solar energy solutions best suit your power consumption, budget, roof space, and savings goals.
