Record number of Victorian and NSW homes installing batteries and solar

The price of home batteries has gone up by about 15 per cent because of the global demand for electric vehicles, says Solar Run managing director Anthony Kurta, whose company is one of the largest installers in Victoria.But that hasn’t stopped his customers: “The uptake has been fantastic – people are concerned there is not enough power in the grid, and they’re worried about blackouts.”One of these customers, West Heidelberg resident Robert Montirosso, is an owner/builder who has embarked on building a 9.1 star, highly energy-efficient home. Made from panels made from 150mm-thick foam, the all-electric house will probably need no heating or cooling, although Montirosso has installed them for comfort if needed. And it now has a new 23-kilowatt rooftop solar system and the first of three batteries that will be fitted over the next year.Montirosso believes gas and electricity…

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