As power bills soar, Australia’s large-scale battery boom points to a cheaper alternative
Nationwide, household electricity prices are rising by up to 9.7% under regulated pricing (DMO), and even sharper increases of up to 13.5% are being applied by leading retailers across some states. But Australia has a proven, cost-effective solution hiding in plain sight – one that can reduce the need for expensive transmission infrastructure.
The answer lies in strategically deploying large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) paired with solar generation: a combination that recent CSIRO analysis confirms as Australia’s cheapest electricity generation technology.
“Think of Australia’s energy system like a water supply,” says John Alexander, Managing Director of Large-scale at SMA Australia. “Solar energy is abundant and cheap, like rainwater, but without storage tanks and pipes, you can’t maintain a reliable supply when needed.
“Large-scale battery storage systems can be deployed much faster than transmission infrastructure, allowing us to provide grid stability and storage capacity in critical locations while major transmission line projects are still under construction.”