Battery storage in Australia

Battery use in the Australian electricity grid is expected to keep growing due to technological advances and rapid cost declines. A number of government schemes have also driven down battery costs and subsidies, accelerating the adoption of the technology by Australian energy producers and users.

In Australia, battery storage for renewable energy is increasingly used in a variety of designs, purposes, sizes and locations. Batteries are used in –

1. The national electricity grid (at both the transmission and distribution levels)
2. ‘Behind the meter’ in homes, businesses or industrial operations
3. The fringes of the grid (areas of poor connection) or off grid (e.g. in microgrids).

How are we supporting battery storage technology?

Our purpose is to support the global transition to net zero emissions by accelerating the pace of pre-commercial innovation, to the benefit of Australian consumers, businesses and workers. By connecting investment, knowledge and people to deliver energy innovation, we are helping to build the foundation of a renewable energy ecosystem in Australia.

We provide funding support for projects involving battery storage because the technology helps the grid to remain stable due to its ability to respond to changes in energy demand. Cost-effective battery storage has the potential to significantly assist in operating a power grid with a higher share of renewable energy.

Distributed Outdoor Energy Storage Cabinet Self-Cooling-PW-164

We deliver impact by supporting a variety of battery projects, from behind the meter, in a range of off-grid and fringe-of-grid applications, and in large-scale applications on the grid. The adoption of these technologies can assist in ensuring that renewable energy continues to contribute effectively in all of Australia’s power systems, therefore allowing a higher penetration of renewables.