South Australians in public housing are being offered the chance to join a world-first program that provides them with a free home battery and slashes their electricity bills without needing to have a solar system installed on their roof.

South Australia is an international leader when it comes to the installation of roof top solar and home batteries and Phase 3 of the SA Virtual Power Plant (VPP) will see home batteries and solar systems installed in another 3,000 supported properties, taking to 4,100 the total number of homes.

In addition to the 4,100 home batteries with solar, in a world first, 20 Housing SA residents will enjoy the cheaper electricity a battery in a VPP delivers without needing to have a solar system installed.

This is a revolutionary trial, which could be a game changer for the thousands of South Australians who can’t benefit from solar power. If successful, this trial could be extended to properties that are otherwise unable to host solar.

Twenty-nine per cent of all home batteries installed in Australia last year were installed in South Australia.

Tesla will use the plentiful supply of renewable electricity generated by South Australian’s world-leading uptake of roof top solar to charge the batteries for the evening peak when the sun sets.

Phase 3 is being delivered through $10 million from the South Australian Government, $8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), $18 million from Tesla and a $30 million loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

South Australia is on track to achieve 100 per cent net-renewables by 2030 with the surge on household solar systems and home batteries making a significant contribution to that outcome.

South Australia is heading towards having over 20,000 home batteries installed – growing even larger than the big battery at Hornsdale.

More about South Australia's Virtual Power Plant

Tuesday 1 June 2021