Australia’s power utilities and grid operators are struggling to keep up with home solar panel popularity. They are rushing to come up with ways to stay relevant and protect their long-term revenues.
Electricity suppliers and network operators are starting to move into selling batteries to store solar energy or looking to charge fees for taking excess solar power into the grid.
Australians have taken to solar panels over the past decade thanks to government incentives. Renewable energy has become a necessity in the current climate as energy policy uncertainty has led to the closure of some coal and gas-fired power plants, which sparked blackouts and price hikes.
1 of 6 Australian homes had solar PV installed at the end of 2016, as stated by the Australian Energy Council, which is the highest per capita number globally.
Over 20% of Aussie homes are likely to install battery storage in the next 2 years, according to a survey by the Australian Energy Market Commission.