Enphase names battery price for imminent solar-plus-storage push in Australia and New Zealand

Enphase has, like others in the PV and storage industries, identified Australia and New Zealand as an "ideal testing ground" as well as an attractive market. Image: Enphase.
Microinverter specialist Enphase has revealed details of plans for two residential solar-plus-storage trials in Australia and New Zealand and publicly put a figure on prices for its AC battery product.

The company has chosen the two southern hemisphere nations as test-beds for its Home Energy Solution, which integrates PV generation with energy storage and a household energy management control system.

Enphase said it would work with the South Australian electricity distribution network, SA Power Networks, to conduct distributed residential energy storage trials for its AC battery system. The company had previously indicated thatAustralia would be first in line to trial this technology. In recent news reports, Tesla was also said to be on the verge of confirming Australia as one of the very first rollout destinations for the Powerwall residential storage systems. 

Meanwhile, in New Zealand, Enphase will work with the country’s largest gas and electricity utility, Genesis Energy, to trial its battery and energy management technologies. 

“The dynamics of the residential solar markets in Australia and New Zealand make it one of the most storage-ready regions in the world,” said Paul Nahi, president and CEO of Enphase. “Homeowners in Australia and New Zealand want total control of their home’s energy because of the combination of electricity rates, high solar penetration, and declining feed-in tariffs. The Enphase Home Energy Solution fits these needs with compelling economics and sets the stage for the evolving energy market.”

Introductory prices

In South Australia, residential PV enjoys around a 25% penetration level, Enphase said, making it an ideal testing ground for the storage system.

“As we prepare for the launch of the Enphase Home Energy Solution in Australia, these trials will help us gain insights into how energy storage can help utility providers improve their load management and develop business models for residential energy storage,” said Greg Wolfson, storage product line director at Enphase.

“Ensuring grid stability is one of the most significant issues to address with solar power increasing its penetration into the electricity grid in Australia,” added Nathan Dunn, managing director for Enphase Energy Asia-Pacific. “The introduction of energy storage on the grid will provide greater stability, which is a win for both service providers and residential customers.”

Enphase disclosed that based on volume purchases, the introductory prices for its AC battery product in Australia would be AU$1,150/kWh (US$838/kWh).