The Albanese Government’s $2.3 billion solar battery rebate scheme is one of the most exciting developments Australia’s energy sector has seen in years but if we don’t get the rollout right from day one, we risk undermining everything this scheme stands for and repeating the disastrous mistakes of the Pink Batts program.

The Australian residential battery market is heating up — and beneath the surface, a new set of performance metrics is emerging as decisive for brand success. While some manufacturers chase short-term growth by dropping prices, the real battle for sustainable market share is being fought on deeper metrics: share of installer adoption, share of installer portfolio, and customer loyalty.

Solar manufacturers are pursuing the next-generation crystalline silicon (c-Si) PV cell technology. Back-contact (xBC) technologies including TOPCon back-contact (TBC), HJT back-contact (HBC), and HJT TOPCon back-contact (HTBC) have emerged as leading candidates, attracting attention for their superior conversion efficiency and aesthetic module designs.

Australia’s grant system is working exactly as designed. And that’s the problem. Right now, if you’re a small business or a not-for-profit, there’s likely a funding stream available to help you test an idea, buy equipment or build capability. If you’re a multinational or a university, there’s even more. But if you sit in the middle, a commercially viable, medium-sized business with proven success, and the capacity to deliver major outcomes, you’re often left with nothing. This isn’t sour grapes, it’s missed opportunities.

The federal government has announced a national battery rebate scheme that comes into effect on July 1, although many eligible installations have already taken place.

PV module manufacturing capacity in Southeast Asia has reached 86.5 GW across 61 active sites, according to Hong Kong-based quality assurance firm Sinovoltaics. The figures come from the company’s latest “Southeast Asia Solar Supply Chain Map” report.

Adelaide-based solar panel maker Tindo will supply 30 MW of its Australian-made solar panels to power Queenland’s large-scale, 182 kilometre underground Bowen Water Pipeline project.

Neara co-founder Jack Curtis says the opportunity to boost capacity of existing transmission networks is possible with smarter grid solutions and derisk reliance on new transmission projects facing potential delays.

With just 54 months until New South Wales reaches its 2030 50% emissions reduction target, five councils are taking matters into their own hands to mandate the electrification of all new buildings, except industrial.

A new study out of Curtin University in Perth has found that despite growing affordability from government rebates, Australian households hesitate to adopt home batteries due to significant non-financial barriers.

AEMO forecasts potential reliability gaps as early as 2026-27 in South Australia and 2027-28 in New South Wales, based on current committed and anticipated projects, but new investment would narrow the risks.

As Australia’s distribution network service providers grapple with challenges sparked by the rise of distributed energy resources, EA Technology says leveraging insights from grid-edge intelligence can unleash the full potential of their networks.

The New Zealand government will provide a local council with more than $14 million in funding to help build a 2 MW solar farm and 4 MWh battery energy storage system to reduce the community’s current reliance on diesel generators for power.

GoodWe has launched a 112 kWh battery energy storage system for commercial and industrial solar projects, featuring 96% round-trip efficiency and a 6,000-cycle lifespan. The system allows parallel connection for up to 450 kWh of total capacity.

Procurement and works packages for what is set to be one of the largest solar farms connected to Australia’s main electricity grid are now live with developer Genex Power seeking expressions of interest from trade contractors and suppliers for the Bulli Creek Solar project.

The tandem device is based on a bottom organic cell that can achieve a power conversion efficiency of 17.9% and a high short-circuit current density of 28.60 mA cm2. Furthermore, it uses a top perovskite solar cell with an open-circuit voltage of 1.37 V and a fill factor of 85.5%.

Victorian network company AusNet has launched a new program that entitles landowners of properties neighbouring the proposed Western Renewable Link transmission project to one-off payments of $20,000 or $40,000.

The Chinese manufacturer said the result was certified by China’s National Photovoltaic Industry Measurement and Testing Center (NPVM).

Australian solar cell developer Halocell Energy has launched its first perovskite-based product line with the flexible Ambient Modules series purpose-built for low-light conditions.

A pilot hydrogen energy plant that will employ a novel approach by producing green hydrogen directly from water and sunlight, without relying on electrolysers or grid power, is on track to begin commissioning in South Australia next month.

The Western Australian government has committed $50 million to scale up the local battery manufacturing industry to take advantage of an expected surge in demand for household energy storage systems.

Fox ESS has launched a hybrid high-power inverter for commercial and industrial use, with parallel operation of up to 10 units enabling 1.25 MW output and 7.2 MWh storage. The Chinese manufacturer says the system offers 97.6% European efficiency and 98.2% peak efficiency.

Indonesia and Singapore have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a solar manufacturing supply chain in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province, as part of broader plans to enable cross-border clean energy trading.

China’s Trina Solar has unveiled a perovskite‑silicon tandem solar module prototype delivering 841 W and 27.1% efficiency, based on 210 mm tandem cells.

Australian PV panel manufacturer Tindo Solar has expanded its export market, locking in a new $8.4 million deal to supply 15 MW of solar modules for large-scale renewable energy projects in Vietnam.

Eku Energy has bought a major battery energy storage project in New Zealand’s North Island to build out its storage assets.

Australian researchers are reporting a breakthrough with zinc-ion battery technology, developing a new method to significantly boost the structural stability of the cathode material that enables the battery to operate reliably for more than 5,000 charge-discharge cycles.

Potentia Energy has given the go-ahead for a 130 MW battery energy storage project in New South Wales, saying the deployment of its grid-forming inverter technology will play a critical role in Australia’s renewable energy transition.

Australian renewable energy infrastructure developer and operator CleanPeak Energy has closed a $465 million portfolio debt refinancing deal enabling it to move forward on several projects expected to achieve financial close in the next 12 months.

Energy storage solutions company GivEnergy has launched single and three-phase hybrid inverter and modular battery storage systems in Australia, to coincide with the 1 July 2025 kick-off of the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program.