Australia’s renewable energy industry presented an optimistic outlook at All Energy Australia 2026, held in Melbourne on October 28 and 29. Energy security, rising electricity demand and the need for investment certainty were among the key themes, alongside the rapid expansion of battery storage.
Organisers RX Global and the Clean Energy Council reported that more than 22,000 people attended, around 5,000 more than in 2025. More than 490 Australian and international companies and organisations exhibited, with battery suppliers prominent across both residential and grid-scale markets.
More than 550,000 home battery systems have been installed in the 15 months since the federal government launched its Cheaper Home Batteries program, which subsidises about 30% of the cost of eligible systems. Although installation growth has steadied after an initial surge, industry representatives said there is further potential, particularly outside Melbourne and Sydney.
Grid-scale storage is also expanding. Nine large battery projects, with a combined capacity of 2.3 GW and 7.1 GWh, began operating in the first half of 2026. That exceeded the 2 GW and 5.1 GWh added during all of 2025. A further 13 projects, totalling 1.6 GW and 6.5 GWh, reached financial close in the first half of this year.
Rystad Energy Renewables and Power Vice President Sally Bogle said batteries have several functions, including helping reduce the curtailment of daytime solar generation and allowing solar and wind facilities to make better use of their assets and grid connections.
The outlook for solar also received a boost from the federal government’s decision to raise the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme eligibility cap from 100 kW to 1 MW. The change extends incentives under the Small-scale Technology Certificate mechanism and is expected to reduce upfront costs for qualifying mid-scale systems by about 20%, supporting commercial and industrial projects.
Government targets are also shaping development. Australia is aiming for renewables to supply 82% of the National Electricity Market by 2030, while Western Australia has set a target of 75% renewable energy for its main electricity grid by 2031. The Australian Energy Market Operator reports a record 80.9 GW of generation and storage projects in the pipeline. Building new capacity will be important as older coal-fired plants retire and electricity consumption is forecast to grow by more than 40% over the next decade.
Victorian Energy Minister Jaclyn Symes said investment capital is available, but developers need clear policy, predictable approvals and confidence that the infrastructure required to connect projects will be delivered.
Sources: pv magazine.