Australia’s ‘over-zealous’ home battery proposals would stall industry

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
CEC chief executive Kane Thornton said restrictions would be unnecessary as long as home storage systems meet robust international standards and are installed by an accredited installer. Credit: CEC
CEC chief executive Kane Thornton said restrictions would be unnecessary as long as home storage systems meet robust international standards and are installed by an accredited installer. Credit: CEC

The Australian body in charge of promoting investment in renewables has criticised “heavy-handed” regulation of home energy storage systems in certain states.

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) said proposed requirements to locate all home energy storage systems outside homes in a separate contained unit would risk holding back the industry at a critical stage when it is starting to gain real momentum. Solar storage batteries for households in Australia enjoyed a more than 1000% percent rise in the number of annual installations from 2015 to 2016, according to the consultancy firm SunWiz.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

CEC chief executive Kane Thornton said: “Consumer safety is our first priority, and there is nothing to suggest that this requirement would do anything other than throw up unnecessary barriers and red tape around an industry which is poised to make a big contribution to energy security across the country.”

Various media reports have emerged suggesting that regulators are making these restrictive proposals in certain states including Queensland where recommendations have been made to keep batteries in separate locations.

Thornton said such restrictions would be unnecessary as long as home storage systems meet robust international standards and are installed by an accredited installer. Thornton was all for having a clear framework to regulate home batteries, but hit back at the “over-zealous approach” currently touted in some states.

Thornton cited the CEC’s development of the first energy storage installation guidelines and the requirement for accredited solar installers to do additional training to be able to install home battery units.

“This is an exciting technology and we should be doing everything we can to encourage more widespread use rather than putting on the brakes before it properly gets going,” he added.

Read Next

July 18, 2025
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has made grid-forming BESS a priority for the National Electricity Market (NEM) and South West Interconnected System (SWIS) for 2026.
July 18, 2025
Acciona Energía has submitted plans for a wind-plus-storage site featuring up to 800MWh of BESS to Australia’s EPBC Act.
July 17, 2025
Chinese multinational renewable energy solutions provider Envision Energy has partnered with developer FERA Australia to deliver 1,500MWh hybrid integrated wind and energy storage projects.
July 16, 2025
Australian distribution network company Endeavour Energy has launched a new community battery in East Bowral, New South Wales.
July 15, 2025
State-owned energy company Stanwell has confirmed the arrival of Tesla Megapack 2XL units at its 300MW/1,200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at Stanwell Power Station in Queensland, Australia.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter