Article sourced from SolarQuotes
Australia’s booming home battery market is facing a growing installation backlog, with industry warning that the main constraint is not product supply but the availability of accredited installers.
Demand for residential energy storage has accelerated under the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with many households rushing to secure installations ahead of expected changes to the federal battery rebate in May.
According to the latest data from solar consultancy Sunwiz, a record 1.2 gigawatt-hours of home batteries were registered through the program in February, underscoring the rapid expansion of the sector.
However, installers across the country say the surge in demand is now stretching installation capacity, with many businesses booked out for months.
Installers booked months ahead
Graeme Galletly, General Manager at Goliath Solar and Electrical, says his company is currently scheduling installations well into May.
“We have eight to ten weeks’ lead time. We’re currently booking installations into May,” Galletly said.
“Installation capacity is the main constraint. We’re comfortable with our own team, but inspections and service work also factor into timing.”
In Queensland, Caleb Davey from Expert Electrical reports similar conditions.
“We’re fully booked through to mid to late May,” Davey said.
“Our main constraint is installer capacity. We’d love to hire another qualified electrician, but finding the right person is tough.”
Industry participants say customers appear more patient than they were late last year, reflecting a broader understanding that workforce availability, rather than product shortages, is now the key limiting factor.
Battery supply remains stable
Despite the surge in installations, installers report that battery supply remains strong across major brands.
“We haven’t seen supply issues with Tesla, Sigenergy, Fronius or BYD,” Galletly said.
Recent developments in distribution are also expected to support supply continuity. Supply Partners Group has secured a new distribution agreement for Tesla Powerwall products in Australia, with Powerwall 3 expected to become compatible with Powerwall 2.
Accreditation limits installation capacity
The number of installations that can be completed is partly governed by workforce accreditation requirements.
Under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, electricians installing rebate-eligible home batteries must hold Grid-Connected Battery Systems accreditation through Solar Accreditation Australia.
While many electricians are accredited to install solar photovoltaic systems, fewer currently hold battery-specific accreditation.
Battery installations also require several hours of design, installation, testing and commissioning, limiting how many systems a team can complete each week. Installers must also manage servicing and warranty work for existing systems, further constraining capacity.
Electricians seeking accreditation must complete nationally recognised battery training units through a Registered Training Organisation before applying to Solar Accreditation Australia.
Industry observers say the number of accredited installers is expected to grow gradually as more electricians complete training. In the meantime, the current surge in demand is likely to keep installation lead times elevated across Australia’s rapidly expanding home battery market.
