May 30, 2025 · The first quarter (Q1) of 2025 has seen a surge in investment for large-scale battery storage in Australia, with six projects worth a total of A$2.4bn ($1.5bn) reaching the
Apr 16, 2025 · Hospitals across Australia are facing increasing risk around security of their energy supply as climate driven disasters threaten critical healthcare infrastructure. The All-Electric
Feb 28, 2025 · Technology group Wärtsilä has been contracted by EnergyAustralia to deliver 350 MW / 1474 MWh of capacity to the Wooreen Energy Storage System (WESS) in Victoria,
Port Macquarie Base Hospital is on the way to becoming more sustainable following a first of its kind large-scale battery storage system installation. The 2.25 MWh battery storage system will maximise the benefits from the facility's existing large rooftop solar panel system.
In December 2021, John Hunter Hospital became home to the largest single hospital rooftop photovoltaic solar system in Australia. The installation includes over 5300 solar panels covering 12,000 square metres of roof space. Watch this video to hear more about the project:
The energy storage project will provide EnergyAustralia with a natural hedge against such market fluctuations and help stabilise energy prices and ensure a more resilient energy supply. “At EnergyAustralia, our purpose is to lead and accelerate the clean energy transformation for all,” said EnergyAustralia Managing Director, Mark Collette.
Total Australian public hospital energy use was stable for the three years (2016/17 to 2018/19) (Table 1 available in PDF). Renewable energy production/purchase increased from 14/ 4,132 GWh to 94/ 4,122 GWh (from 0.3% to 2.3% of power consumed). Australian renewable grid electricity uptake grew by 8.3% (from 15.7% in 2016/17 to 24% in 2018/19).
Victoria and New South Wales combined consumed 60% of total Australian public hospital energy (1,288 and 1,206 of 4,122 GWh respectively, 2018/19). Queensland public hospitals consumed 778/4,122 GWh [19% of total energy] and produced/purchased the most renewable electricity (74/778 GWh [9.5%]) of all state public hospitals in 2018/19.
John Hunter Hospital Solar Array Project was introduced to us by the Facilities Maintenance Unit General Manager Mr. Phil Groulton, who asked Public Works for a proposal to project manage the project. Capacity of the system was over 2.2 megawatts, which is a very large system—5,300 panels. Each panel was 450 watts per panel.
The global residential solar storage and inverter market is experiencing rapid expansion, with demand increasing by over 300% in the past three years. Home energy storage solutions now account for approximately 35% of all new residential solar installations worldwide. North America leads with 38% market share, driven by homeowner energy independence goals and federal tax credits that reduce total system costs by 26-30%. Europe follows with 32% market share, where standardized home storage designs have cut installation timelines by 55% compared to custom solutions. Asia-Pacific represents the fastest-growing region at 45% CAGR, with manufacturing innovations reducing system prices by 18% annually. Emerging markets are adopting residential storage for backup power and energy cost reduction, with typical payback periods of 4-7 years. Modern home installations now feature integrated systems with 10-30kWh capacity at costs below $700/kWh for complete residential energy solutions.
Technological advancements are dramatically improving home solar storage and inverter performance while reducing costs. Next-generation battery management systems maintain optimal performance with 40% less energy loss, extending battery lifespan to 15+ years. Standardized plug-and-play designs have reduced installation costs from $1,200/kW to $650/kW since 2022. Smart integration features now allow home systems to operate as virtual power plants, increasing homeowner savings by 35% through time-of-use optimization and grid services. Safety innovations including multi-stage protection and thermal management systems have reduced insurance premiums by 25% for solar storage installations. New modular designs enable capacity expansion through simple battery additions at just $600/kWh for incremental storage. These innovations have improved ROI significantly, with residential projects typically achieving payback in 5-8 years depending on local electricity rates and incentive programs. Recent pricing trends show standard home systems (5-10kWh) starting at $8,000 and premium systems (15-20kWh) from $12,000, with financing options available for homeowners.