Australia has reached a major milestone for rooftop solar, with 100 community batteries now installed to store extra daytime power for the hours when households need it most.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced the milestone, according to ESS News.
Here's what to know
The 100th battery was installed through ARENA's Community Batteries Funding Initiative, which is part of the Australian federal government's AUD 200 million Community Batteries for Household Solar program. The agency received AUD 171 million of that total.
The agency also awarded AUD 23.2 million to three more projects in Round 2. The YES Group Regional Community Batteries Project will get AUD 10.29 million to bring 14 batteries to regional parts of South Australia and New South Wales.
The Ausgrid Network-led Community Battery Scale-up will get AUD 8 million for 21 batteries in Sydney, the Central Coast, and the Hunter region. The City of Newcastle Innovative Battery Solutions Project will get AUD 5 million to pair community batteries with embedded solar networks.
Homeowners who want similar resilience at home can explore EnergySage to compare home battery storage options and get competitive installation estimates. The platform has teamed up with the electrification brand Qmerit to guarantee you get the best price on home battery storage solutions.
More background
Community batteries differ from private home batteries because they serve multiple nearby households, but the core benefit is the same. They store power when it's plentiful so it can be used when it's most needed. That can lower energy costs and keep solar power useful after sunset.
Adding battery storage is one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and even go off the grid. Even when a full home system isn't realistic, battery backup can still help during blackouts and extreme weather.
Save $10,000 on solar panels without even sharing your phone number Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers in your area. To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner. Solar panels can save you more than $50k over their 25-year lifespan, and EnergySage can help you save as much as $10k on installation. Which begs the question — isn't that worth an email or two? |
Pila is another company with excellent battery backup options. Its plug-and-play batteries are priced at a fraction of what a whole-home backup system would cost. That makes them an easier starting point for many households.
Australia's home battery market is expanding quickly, too. ESS News reported that Australians are now installing roughly three times as many home batteries as they did a year earlier. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries scheme began in mid-2025.
What's being done?
Outside of funding the batteries, the agency said the program is gathering data on how they perform, what they cost, which business models work, and how they affect customers and the grid. The goal is to speed up commercial rollout across Australia.
Per the outlet, a research report found that rooftop solar and home batteries can supply more and more of what households use, but large storage projects and the power grid itself remain important as more electricity comes from rooftops and neighborhood systems.
Separately, Clean Energy Finance Corp. has pledged AUD 100 million to speed up battery storage projects that connect to local power networks across the country.
Where can I learn more?
Australia's battery push is manifesting in rooftop solar setups, neighborhood storage, and grid-scale projects. These stories look at homeowners selling stored solar power, incentive-driven battery adoption, state loan programs, and a major long-duration storage project.
• Across Australia, homeowners are using batteries to sell power as rooftop solar surges.
• Australia's new incentives have sparked a battery boom to steady volatile power markets.
• In Australia, one in 25 homes now has batteries as gas generation falls.
• In New South Wales, interest-free loans for solar are helping households add batteries.
• Australia's grid is preparing for 144 Tesla Megapacks at its first eight-hour battery.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
