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.

Queensland battery manufacturer Vaulta has partnered with American company eFinery Energy to explore the feasibility of deploying its battery systems in the United States and establishing a licensed assembly facility in that country.

The New South Wales government’s new green bank is now open for business with an initial $1 billion In funding available to accelerate key energy projects to support the state’s shift from coal-fired power generation to renewables.

Queensland’s largest green hydrogen project is on the scrap heap after state government-owned Stanwell Corporation announced its withdrawal from the international consortium developing the estimated $12.5 billion production plant and pipeline.

Yang Bao, Trinasolar’s president of global sales and marketing, recently spoke with pv magazine about the company’s strategy for the solar and energy storage business.

Alinta Energy has locked in construction of the first 250 MW / 1,000 MWh stage of a 500 MW, four-hour battery energy storage system planned for South Australia and appointed local construction firm GenusPlus Group as principal contractor.

The feasibility of deploying floating solar systems on farm-based water storages to optimise water retention and generate renewable energy that could serve as an alternative income stream for landholders will be investigated as part of an Australian-first research project.

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.

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.

Researchers have demonstrated that the theoretical optimal tilt for rooftop solar energy production in low-cost buildings in Nigeria is approximately 5.67°. Their modeling suggests to adopt south-facing roofs for PV generation in the southern hemisphere.

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.

Australian wave power technology company Carnegie Clean Energy has secured new funding to advance the design of a commercial wave energy generation system for offshore applications, starting with the moored vessels used in the aquaculture sector.

Queensland battery technology developer Li-S Energy has signed a supply and testing agreement with an unnamed defence technology company, targeting integration of lithium-sulfur battery solutions into advanced military and security systems.

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%.

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.

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.

Chinese solar manufacturer Longi and Indonesian state-owned energy company Pertamina have started construction on a 1.4 GW solar cell and module production facility in West Java, Indonesia.

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 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.

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.

Western Australia’s solar industry is on notice after a trader unlawfully used the state government logo and falsely claimed WA Battery Scheme registrations are open in a deliberate act to mislead consumers.

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.

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

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.