The ACT Government’s Next Generation Energy Storage program is again offering more choice in battery retailers, with another 6 added to the approved list.
The Next Gen Energy Storage program provides eligible households and businesses installing batteries connected to a new or existing solar power system a subsidy of $3,500 or 50% of the battery price (excluding GST) – whichever is lowest.
It used to be higher in many cases; originally $825 for each kilowatt of a solar battery’s sustained peak output, up to a maximum of 30kW for households and 50kW for businesses. Using the Tesla Powerwall as an example – which offers 5kW sustained peak output – the subsidy was previously $4,125. Still, $3,500 is very generous and certainly much better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.
As is the case with Australia’s national “solar rebate“, the ACT scheme isn’t really a rebate but a point-of-sale discount.
Since the Next Gen program kicked off over 5 years ago, more than 2,240 battery storage systems have been installed under the scheme according to ACT Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury.
“I encourage all Canberra homeowners and business owners who are considering battery storage to check the Everyday Climate Choices website and apply to be part of the program,” said Minister Rattenbury. “Businesses interested in becoming an eligible retailer are also encouraged to apply.”
Eligible Retailers And Battery Systems
Originally, only two Canberra installers were able to install solar battery systems. Just over a year ago when we checked in with the program, the number of approved battery retailers had grown to six. Currently, there are 20 approved, but at the time of writing the latest six additions hadn’t been added to the Next Gen Energy Storage program information page.
The increased competition is a good thing – we saw an accusation in the past of some retailers using a big chunk of the subsidy to increase their margins.
It used to be only a very limited range of battery systems were eligible under the program, but that has since changed. Any energy storage system appearing on the CEC’s approved batteries list is eligible – and there are a bunch of them. You can compare specs and estimated pricing of some of these approved systems using SQ’s solar battery comparison table and read feedback from owners in our home battery reviews.
The Next Gen information page also notes ACT households can apply for a subsidy under the program *and* a loan under the Sustainable Household Scheme, which offers zero-interest loans from $2,000 to $15,000 to be repaid over up to 10 years.
If you’re not sure energy storage is a good fit for your home, it’s well worth reading SolarQuotes Founder Finn’s guides to understanding, buying and owning a home battery system. And on a related note, check out our summary of solar/battery rebates and subsidies across Australia.
In other very recent solar news out of Canberra, we reported yesterday on another ACT Government initiative; this one helping clubs slash emissions and energy bills – and reducing reliance on revenue from gaming machines in doing so.
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