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Australia’s home battery boom is in overdrive, with around 20,000 installations registered nationally in the first month since the Federal home battery rebate launched on 1 July
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Households pairing rooftop solar with a battery can save up to $2,300 a year – slashing as much as 90% off typical power bills
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New analysis shows homes that electrify with solar, storage and efficient appliances can cut energy costs by up to 94%
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Despite 87% of Australians ranking energy efficiency as the most important home improvement, less than a third (28%) plan on switching to renewable energy, Schneider Electric research shows
Australia’s home battery boom continues to gain momentum, with around 20,000 battery installations registered nationally since 1 July, according to new analysis from the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC). The surge is fuelled by a new federal rebate which launched at the beginning of July, which cuts battery costs by up to 30%.
This landmark shift in affordability follows a record 74,000 battery installations last year, a 60% jump year-on-year. With over 4.1 million households already harnessing solar power to manage rising energy costs and reduce carbon emissions, this momentum is accelerating Australia’s transition to smart, electrified homes.
Smart energy is on the rise
Pairing a home battery with rooftop solar can almost double household energy savings, from around $1,500 a year with solar alone to $2,300, covering up to 90% of the average family’s power bill.
Analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) found that households could cut their power bills by 82% to 94% by installing solar and a battery, and switching to efficient electric appliances such as heat pumps, air-conditioners and induction cooktops.
Closing the intention-action gap
However, despite 87% of Australians ranking energy efficiency as the most important home improvement, less than a third (28%) plan on switching to a renewable energy supply for their homes, according to recent research from Schneider Electric.
For Daniel Vasilevski, from Sydney’s Inner West, the transformation began well before the rebate took effect. He has turned his home into a practical example of what smart electrification can achieve.
“We installed a 6.6kW solar system with a 10kWh battery about three years ago,” Daniel says. “Now, even with the demands of everyday life, our power bills are usually under $100 a quarter. It’s not just about saving money, it’s about comfort, reliability, and running a home that works for us.”
By integrating lighting, climate control, and security through one connected platform, Daniel’s smart home setup delivers daily convenience, from automated blinds and welcome-home lighting to remote energy monitoring and control.
Smart energy needs intelligent management
According to Schneider Electric, while solar panels and batteries are powerful tools for generating and storing energy, their full value is unlocked when they’re part of a smart, connected home.
Smart home technology acts as the intelligence layer of an electrified home, helping families optimise comfort, reduce energy waste and get more out of their solar and battery systems.
Chris Kerr, Vice President & CEO – Clipsal by Schneider Electric, says the rebate is a timely catalyst.
“The federal battery rebate lowers the cost barrier but batteries alone aren’t the answer. Smart home automation is what transforms individual energy assets into a coordinated energy system, it puts homeowners in charge of when and how their energy is used. The most powerful homes won’t just generate energy, they’ll know how to use it well.”
Resilience in the face of crisis: smart energy in action
With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, Australians are increasingly turning to smart energy for reliability, not just savings. According to the Climate Council’s Battery Boom, home and EV batteries are already helping households maintain power during blackouts caused by fires, storms and floods.
Gold Coast Hinterland resident and father-of-three, Farid Shahidinejad, experienced this first-hand during Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March.
His smart energy system, combining solar, batteries and generators, kept his home running and connected during the outage. The automation ensured his backup systems activated seamlessly, maintaining power and connectivity without interruption.
“During the cyclone, our home setup allowed us to stay comfortable, support neighbours and even guide others on how to prepare. We were able to stay online and keep essential devices running. Having this level of energy resilience meant I could focus on helping the community rather than just getting through it myself.”
Chris Kerr agrees that resilience is becoming just as important as savings for Australian households.
“When the grid goes down, the true value of energy independence becomes clear,” he says.
“Smart homes aren’t just about reducing bills, they’re about peace of mind. Smart automation gives families confidence that their home is working intelligently in the background, balancing comfort, cost, and continuity even during a crisis. With the right mix of solar, storage and automation, households can ride out blackouts and stay connected. That’s the real promise of an electrified, resilient home,” added Chris.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider’s purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.
Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.
We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitisation to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centres, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.
We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.
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