While few households are eligible for more than $4,125 of subsidy without upgrading their power supply to three phase,2the maximum subsidy of $24,450 is more than South Australia's maximum of $6,00.
Most Canberra homes, and many small businesses, have single phase power, which lets them install a solar battery that can provide up to 5 kilowatts of continuous power for a maximum subsidy of $4,125. This is 69% of South Australia's $6,000 maximum.
The battery will also provide a range of energy and essential system security services. In exchange, the Territory will provide Eku Energy with fixed quarterly payments over a period of 15 years. The Big Canberra Battery project is delivering an ecosystem of batteries at different scales.
Unlike in South Australia, the only limit to the subsidy is the amount of power your battery is permitted to supply to the grid. So a home or business with three phase power could install a massive — and very expensive — solar battery system that can provide up to 30 kilowatts of continuous power and receive a subsidy of up to $24,450.
The Next Gen program has reached its target of 5,000 batteries in Canberra homes and businesses – and is no longer accepting rebate applications. Households can continue to access Government support through the Sustainable Household Scheme and Home Energy Support Program.
How many solar batteries will Australia's incentive scheme subsidise?
A government-backed incentive scheme established to accelerate the introduction of distributed solar energy storage in the Australian Capital Territory is to be wound up having achieved its target of subsidising the installation of about 5,000 batteries over the past seven years.
The project is part of the Canberra's big battery commitment, which ACT Labor made before the 2020 election. Mr Barr on Monday said the sustainable household scheme was crucial to allowing homeowners to transition away from gas appliances. More than one in 10 Canberra households were already participating in the scheme, he said.