Battery demand ‘straps on a rocket’ as rooftop solar passes its peak

Australian households have seen a surge in demand for batteries, with more units installed in the final six months of 2025 than in the previous five years combined, driven by generous federal government subsidies. Rooftop solar panel installations have also grown in size and popularity, meeting 14.2% of the country's electricity demand in 2025. The capacity of rooftop solar now exceeds that of coal-fired generators, with 28.3 gigawatts combined. The government's battery subsidy scheme aims to make the energy grid more affordable and reliable during peak demand times, encouraging stronger participation in virtual power plants by households and businesses.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/subsidies-the-fuel-as-battery-demand-straps-on-a-rocket/106300776