A recent announcement by the State Government has made getting battery storage a priority for South Australians.

Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan has revealed that the government subsidy of up to $6000 will start winding down on 15th April 2020.

It follows record take-up of batteries late last year that now sees the amount of home energy storage reaching half the capacity of SA’s Jamestown facility, the world’s largest lithium-iron battery.

“The next few months are a critical time for homeowners, renovators and builders to decide on home battery storage,” says David Sharpe, of Adelaide’s Sharpe Energy Hub. “We have brought in extra stocks of batteries and related solar systems to prevent any delays between ordering and installation.”

Several other factors also make it imperative for potential buyers to get involved. One is a risk of potential disruption to the international solar industry supply chain due to the Coronavirus. Another is the fact that the number of allocated places in Virtual Power Plant schemes are filling up.

VPPs are networks of home solar and battery systems combining to generate, store and feed electricity into the grid. Joining a VPP is the best way to maximise income from battery storage.

“The emergence of VPPs is tipping the power into the hands of consumers, making batteries more affordable for more South Australians,” says Mr van Holst Pellekaan. “Consumers can now choose from a range of virtual power plant offers in the market, providing them with more choice in how to reduce their electricity bills.”

Sharpe Energy Hub has consultants ready to explain how to get involved with the new world of battery storage and associated VPPs.

Their key tool is the Energy Analyser, which crunches consumption figures to show how a household can save up to 80 per cent on energy costs.

Low-cost finance is also available. Sharpe Energy Hub systems are backed by the experience and knowledge of 39 years in business.