More than one million Australian households would install heavily discounted battery storage over the next five years under a scheme proposed by the Greens, as part of a new policy aimed at accelerating the shift to renewables.
The nearly $3 billion policy – which would “redirect” money from fossil fuel tax breaks – was unveiled by Greens Leader Richard Di Natale and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt in Canberra last Thursday.
The five-year program would see individuals get up to half the cost of their battery storage system covered, up to a maximum of $5000 in the first year of the program, with the amount of the credit tapering off to $1,500 by 2021, to reflect the projected decline in technology costs.
A grant scheme targeting low income homes would also be made available. All up, the policy would support as many as 1.2 million households over the five years of the program, the Greens said.
The scheme would also cater to as many as 30,000 businesses, with a measure allowing battery storage assets to be depreciated for tax purposes over an accelerated period of three years.
“Now is the time to jumpstart the battery industry, encourage the take up of storage and help make Australia a renewable energy leader,” said Bandt.
“With public interest high, now is the time for a targeted, 5-year support package to drive down costs and put battery storage in reach of every household and business.”
The Greens said both programs would be funded by savings, including $2.75 billion from the reform of accelerated depreciation concessions for fossil fuels intensive industries.
© 2016 Solar Choice Pty Ltd
Yes, the fossil fuel industries have been heavily subsidised for long enough. It’s time to tip the scales in favour of the clean and healthy technologies that do not pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink or rob future generations of non-renewable resources.
After all if there were no subsidies for fossil fuels there would be no need for solar subsidies. Its time to level the playing field.
Furthermore increasing the solar utilization through with more energy storage would reduce the demand on infrastructure and reduce the need for expensive “poles and wires” upgrades. The money saved may even exceed the $3 billion spent on the proposed incentives.
It’s may be time to vote Green!