Redback part of SA Home Battery Scheme

Redback Technologies has announced its solar and storage solution, the Smart Hybrid Inverter, will become available on a subsidised basis under South Australia’s Home Battery Scheme.

Announced in October 2018, the scheme allows SA households to receive state government grants of up to $6000 to install solar home battery technology. The program is intended to make it easier for consumers to shift to more affordable and reliable energy sources.

According to an update at the end of January, 101 home batteries have already been successfully installed, over 500 households are awaiting the installation of their battery and Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan expects more applications for subsidies as public awareness builds.

“We applaud the South Australian Government for introducing the subsidy,” said Redback CEO Patrick Matweew. “They are refocusing efforts on empowering consumers to take control of their energy future, whilst simultaneously driving energy prices down, taking stress off grid infrastructure and helping to limit climate change. It’s truly a win-win situation.”

The Smart Hybrid System features a 5 kW inverter, plus a new battery cabinet which is expandable and holds up to 9.6 kWh of energy storage. The system also has intuitive consumer apps, designed to help home owners understand their energy consumption and generation, and reduce bills.

“As an Australian born and bred company, we understand the struggles that Australian consumers have when it comes to their energy bills. Since 2015, we’ve been building a product that puts the Australian home owner at the heart of the technology,” Matweew said.

Redback is the only Australian-based company to currently be involved in the scheme, and Matweew said the company’s involvement will help open it up to a new market and increase its footprint around Australia. Redback will be working with key installers in the South Australian market, including NRG Solar Services, Class A Energy Solutions and Greener Housing Solutions, to increase the number of installations of its product in the state.

The new scheme is similar to a program run by the Queensland Government which Redback is also involved in, providing loans and grants for home owners and small businesses who install combined solar and storage systems. It is the company’s hope that similar subsidy schemes will eventually be introduced on a federal level, further empowering consumers to take charge of their electricity costs and introduce greater competition into the energy market.

Originally published here.