As part of the 2025-26 budget, the Western Australia Government is supporting the resources industry to make residential batteries, with a $50 million Local Battery Manufacturing Program of direct grants and low-interest loans.
The Local Battery Manufacturing Program is part of the government’s Made in WA plan to keep the state’s economy strong, create the jobs of the future and make more things closer to home.
Most local manufacturers focus on commercial and regional or remote battery technologies, and have expressed interest in scaling up residential battery manufacturing.
Eligible Western Australian battery manufacturers will be able to access a $30 million grants program to grow their capacity to provide competitive residential battery products to local and international markets.
Grants will be up to $10 million and must be matched dollar for dollar by the proponent.
The package also includes $20 million for low-interest loans or provision of state government land to encourage industry to make major new investments in technology and expanded production facilities.
This latest investment will help put Western Australian businesses in the box seat to benefit from a surge in demand for household batteries to harness solar energy.
Under the Residential Battery Scheme, tens of thousands of households can store the renewable power generated at home, while also receiving ongoing cost-of-living relief and help secure the state’s clean energy future.
The $377 million scheme, combined with the $2.3 billion Australian Government Cheaper Home Batteries Program, ensures around five times as many households can access the complementary schemes that originally proposed under the state scheme.
An estimated 100,000 households are set to benefit from a combination of the state and federal election commitments to support the cost of installing benefits.
Synergy customers are eligible to receive up to $5,000 and Horizon Power customers are eligible for up to $7,500. Meanwhile, households are expected to save up to $1,500 per year throughout installing a battery and solar panels.
Energy and Decarbonisation and Manufacturing Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says these schemes and programs are clear examples of the state government ensuring that Western Australian’s benefit from the energy transition.
“Direct grants and low-interest loans will provide support for local companies to expand and take advantage of the surge in demand for batteries from households wanting to store more of their solar energy for when they really need it,” Sanderson says.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Australian Government
