Australia sees record-breaking year for battery storage

According to a new report from SunWiz, battery installations around Australia continue to grow steadily with 2021 being the first year that more than one gigawatt-hour of battery capacity was installed, and at least that amount expected for 2022 as well.

The amount of energy added in 2021 is therefore enough to power almost 590,000 homes for an hour during peak period in summer. Installation of large-scale grid batteries was responsible for the majority of the last year’s growth in capacity, with sites such as the Victorian Big Battery and the Wandoan South Battery Energy Storage System in Queensland being key drivers.

Residentially, over 33,000 batteries were installed last year, which is roughly the same as in 2020 and the expected value for 2022 as well. Impressively, this is despite the cessation of state government subsidies for household batteries. The batteries themselves are also becoming larger, making them more economical at scale.

The report also notes that while Victoria and New South Wales are installing new batteries at a higher rate than other states and territories, South Australia remains the best stocked in regards to total energy storage.

“Australians want to make the most of their solar panels and make sure they have access to cheap, clean energy around the clock,” said Sunwiz Managing Director Warwick Johnston. “We expect new installations to continue, even as financial subsidies wind down, which tells us Australians want to take charge of their own electricity.

“We’ve also seen significant growth in non-residential, grid-scale batteries, which will help deliver cheap, reliable energy across the country.

“With more households, communities and businesses investing in battery storage, Australians can be sure they have a modern energy system while also saving money.”

The 2022 Australian Battery Market Report is available from SunWiz.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/malp