Pre-election Labor commits to expand the SRES with batteries, 6 April 2025
Federal Labor this weekend announced it will provide battery incentives to households and businesses from 1 July 2025 by expanding the Small-scale Renewable Energy Target (SRES), if returned to power after the 3 May election. Up to 1.1 million batteries will be installed up to 2030 under the initiative. This will provide immediate and direct cost of living relief, drive down peak demand electricity prices and wholesale electricity prices and support businesses to invest.
“The Energy Savings Industry Association strongly supports the SRES expansion proposed to include batteries. We have been advocating for this policy for several years,” said ESIA President Ric Brazzale.
The ESIA is encouraged Labor has committed to stacking battery incentives with state battery incentives, where they are available, as this will provide the kind of significant upfront discounts that drive rollout at scale sooner. There are more details to come on Labor’s proposal including regulatory versus legislative changes and under what circumstances a battery installed from today would be eligible.
The ESIA is also advocating for the SRES to be extended beyond 2030 and to continue to include batteries, solar and efficient electric appliances, continuing hot water heat pumps and adding heat pump air conditioners as soon as possible to deliver even more energy and bill savings. This will help reach Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
“Solar, batteries and efficient electric appliances is the full solutions suite that empowers electricity users with flexibility – not having to worry so much about when the sun is shining to maximise their energy and bill savings,” said Mr Brazzale.
A battery enables electricity generation surplus on site during the day to be used at night. A household with solar PV, batteries and efficient electric appliances can set up their system to load shift daily, depending on the weather and household usage patterns. For example, a site can use their solar powered electricity mostly during the day when the sun is shining to pre-cool or heat the home to avoid the more expensive option of doing this later in the day.
“All politicians need to support this immediate high impact SRES expansion policy. We can’t afford to let this long-awaited paradigm shift be shot down in pre-election crossfire.” said Mr Brazzale.
… Ends Media contact: Jessica Lynch, M 0417 539 377, comns@esia.asn.au
Reference:
Federal government media release: Labor to deliver one million energy bill busting batteries
(ESIA media release PDF)
