Bendigo and its suburbs have been added to the list of localities eligible to participate in a rebate scheme for residents who install solar batteries. Households in eligible postcodes can apply for a state government rebate of up to $4838 on solar batteries, which store energy produced by solar panels for later use. Chris Corr, the program manager for the Bendigo Sustainability Group's Community Power Hub, said solar batteries would "play a key role in our renewable energy future". Mr Corr said solar batteries were still too expensive to be economical in most situations, even with the rebate on offer, but prices would come down with volume, and demand needed to be built. Solar batteries cost about $8000 to $12,000, he said, depending on the size and quality. Related: Bendigo group welcomes government's renewable energy target boost The state government is offering 1000 rebates in 2019-2020, with about 550 available from this month. Mr Corr said the geographical expansion of the program suggested take-up of the initiative had been small. But he said the use of solar batteries in coming years "will increase substantially and become increasingly important". Mr Corr said batteries would be vital in the move towards renewable energy, to store electricity in times of intermittent supply. He said they would also form part of 'virtual power plants', in which retailers and distributors would be able to have partial control of the batteries with the agreement of customers. Related: Plans lodged for solar farm near Bridgewater This would mean retailers and distributors could have the batteries discharge energy back to the grid to support it and keep it balanced, Mr Corr said, on days of high energy demand, such as hot days. Among the other central Victorian areas in the solar rebate program are Marong, Heathcote, Goornong, Elmore, Raywood, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Castlemaine, Harcourt, Campbells Creek, Daylesford and Avoca. There have been more than 359 approved applications for solar batteries since July 2019. So far, 219 of these systems have been installed. The Victorian government says households could save about $650 on electricity bills with an average 11kwH battery. For more information on the solar battery rebate program, including eligibility and how to apply, visit the program's website.
Bendigo households could now be eligible for rebates on solar batteries. Picture: PETER WEAVING
Bendigo and its suburbs have been added to the list of localities eligible to participate in a rebate scheme for residents who install solar batteries.
Households in eligible postcodes can apply for a state government rebate of up to $4838 on solar batteries, which store energy produced by solar panels for later use.
Chris Corr, the program manager for the Bendigo Sustainability Group's Community Power Hub, said solar batteries would "play a key role in our renewable energy future".
Mr Corr said solar batteries were still too expensive to be economical in most situations, even with the rebate on offer, but prices would come down with volume, and demand needed to be built.
Solar batteries cost about $8000 to $12,000, he said, depending on the size and quality.
The state government is offering 1000 rebates in 2019-2020, with about 550 available from this month.
Mr Corr said the geographical expansion of the program suggested take-up of the initiative had been small.
But he said the use of solar batteries in coming years "will increase substantially and become increasingly important".
Mr Corr said batteries would be vital in the move towards renewable energy, to store electricity in times of intermittent supply.
He said they would also form part of 'virtual power plants', in which retailers and distributors would be able to have partial control of the batteries with the agreement of customers.
This would mean retailers and distributors could have the batteries discharge energy back to the grid to support it and keep it balanced, Mr Corr said, on days of high energy demand, such as hot days.
Among the other central Victorian areas in the solar rebate program are Marong, Heathcote, Goornong, Elmore, Raywood, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Castlemaine, Harcourt, Campbells Creek, Daylesford and Avoca.
There have been more than 359 approved applications for solar batteries since July 2019.
So far, 219 of these systems have been installed.
The Victorian government says households could save about $650 on electricity bills with an average 11kwH battery.
For more information on the solar battery rebate program, including eligibility and how to apply, visit the program's website.
