Key takeaways from All Energy Australia 2026

The All Energy Australia 2026 conference in Melbourne drew over 22,000 attendees and 490 exhibitors, reflecting strong industry confidence in energy security and renewable growth. RX Global and the Clean Energy Council reported a 5,000-person increase from 2025, with batteries dominating both grid and small-scale segments on the expanded trade floor. The event underscored the sector’s focus on addressing supply-demand imbalances and accelerating clean energy deployment across national and international markets.

Residential battery installations have surpassed 550,000 since the federal Cheaper Home Batteries program launched, subsidizing roughly 30% of eligible systems. While growth has stabilized in metropolitan areas like Melbourne and Sydney, regions such as South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory show untapped potential. Industry stakeholders noted that despite recent stabilization, the small-scale battery market retains significant room for expansion.

Large-scale battery projects achieved record growth in early 2026, with nine projects totaling 2.3 GW / 7.1 GWh commissioned in the first half of the year. An additional 13 projects totaling 1.6 GW / 6.5 GWh reached financial close during the same period, surpassing 2025’s additions. Analysts emphasized the critical role of battery storage in mitigating solar curtailment and optimizing grid performance for renewable assets.

The federal government’s expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) eligibility cap from 100 kW to 1 MW is expected to boost commercial and industrial solar projects. The change, which reduces upfront costs by about 20% through Small-scale Technology Certificates, aims to unlock mid-scale solar development. Meanwhile, Australia targets 82% renewables in the NEM by 2030, with Western Australia committing to 75% renewables by 2031, as new generation and storage projects in the pipeline reach 80.9 GW.