The Building and Energy Agency has launched a new scheme to see payments made for energy directed into the electricity grid from eligible home batteries and electric vehicles.
Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston said the Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme (DEBS) would apply to eligible households, schools and not-for-profits installing new solar panels or batteries, or upgrading their existing solar panel system up to a five kilowatt maximum.
Under the new scheme electricity exported between 3pm and 9pm would earn 10c a kilowatt-hour (kWh) with electricity exported at other times earning three cents per kWh.
Mr Johnston said that until 6 November DEBS customers would receive the Renewable Energy Buyback Scheme (REBS) to allow Synergy and Horizon Power to complete software and technical upgrades.
He said the new pricing better reflected the cost of electricity at different times of day, with the 10¢ provided during the greater demand period when wholesale cost of electricity was high.
“The REBS customers will not be affected by these changes, unless they choose to switch to the DEBS; install a battery which is not currently eligible for the REBS; or upgrade their solar panel system.”
He said Western Australia was undergoing a massive energy transformation, with one in two households expected to have solar panels by 2030.
“This new scheme encourages households to make the most of their solar energy when it is plentiful in the middle of the day, which not only benefits them but also supports the grid,” the Minister said.
“It encourages households to install batteries and west-facing panels, which helps stretch solar generation into the afternoon-evening peak, extending the time to benefit from the sun’s rays,” he said.
