Aldi is expanding into the residential solar business. Picture: Aldi
Supermarket giant Aldi is making a surprise new move in Australia that could help deliver sweeping money-saving improvements to houses across much of the country.
The German retailer announced this week it would begin delivering solar panel and battery packages for Australian homes in key states, including installation.
The move is set to spark panic, causing major competition not just for major grocery retailers like Coles and Woolworths but also the solar panel industry.
Aldi Solar was trialled in Victoria, but will now be rolled out in NSW, Queensland and ACT. Pre-orders opened from September 10.
Aldi Australia group director Simon Padovani-Ginies said the program was about delivering value to Aussies outside of the grocery sector.
“With straightforward pricing, flexible battery options, installation by certified experts and an exceptional payback period, Aldi Solar puts power back in the hands of households ready to take control of their energy costs,” he said.
The program will give customers two options – one worth $6999 and the other worth $8499.
The cheaper option includes 15 solar panels with a 5.5kW hybrid inverter and a 10kWh battery system.
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Aldi’s new solar program launched this month.
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The pricier option doubles the battery capacity to 20kWh and blackout protection and installation are included at both price points.
Aldi will partner with a separate company called Tempo to install the packages.
The standard cost of a just one 5kWh battery in Australia already comes in at $7000 so Aldi’s offer, which includes a bigger battery as well as solar panels and an inverter, will be hard to beat at the same price.
Aldi data claims a typical home in Sydney could save more than $3600 on their power bill in 12 months by installing a solar system, meaning the system will have paid for itself after just two years.
That would be welcome relief for thousands of households across the country who continue to suffer through a cost of living crisis that has seen average power bills skyrocket in recent years.
Finder reported power prices in Australia recently increased by almost 10 per cent or $280 a year for households.
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Solar panels are becoming increasingly popular as a way to reduce bills but the initial cost can be prohibitive. Picture: James Croucher
Aussies interested in pre-ordering solar systems through Aldi will have installations beginning from November.
Check if your postcode is covered by Aldi’s program here.
The Aldi offer comes as one Aussie homeowner shared how he slashed his power bills from $600 to zero – and now gets a passive income from the home changes he installed.
Michael Tat from Sydney’s southwest said he pocketing money every quarter from his electricity company after pairing a home battery with rooftop solar panels.
He is now using the extra money to pay off his mortgage quicker and looking to add a second battery for an EV to avoid paying for petrol.
“What really drove me was the beginning of the increase in price for electricity,” Mr Tat said.
“I was one of the early adopters in terms of purchasing an EV and getting on the green sustainability track.”’
Sydney resident Michael Tat with his home’s NeoVolt battery.
Mr Tat said having solar was a great starting point, however, the home battery allowed him to store power generated during the day when he would otherwise be at work and instead use this at night.
Mr Tat is now looking for a second battery, which he said will help not having to worry about potentially taking from the grid at all.
“It’s really trying to future-proof myself knowing that the federal government rebate is available now, looking at that initiative it actually is a very good offer in terms of being able to get a second battery at a low cost,” he said.
“Since I got the battery in October last year, I haven’t actually had to pay a cent in electricity bills until now, even in the winter period,” he said “My credit bill at the moment for my energy is actually in positive $487.”
Australian energy solutions provider VoltX Energy is reporting a 2000 per cent growth in battery solar pairings over the past year with data showcasing half of all households making the changes to reduce and even eliminate their energy bills.
VoltX Energy chief operating officer David Sedighi.
VoltX Energy CEO David Sedighi said this surge is “unprecedented” and reflects a major shift in how Australians are managing energy costs.
Mr Sedighi said solar panels generate electricity during the daylight with peak productions hours being between 10am to 2pm, however, excess electricity is typically exported back to the grid.
Home batteries store excess solar power so you can use this at night time when electricity is the most expensive, essentially cutting bills and giving consumers energy independence, he said.
Data from Climate Council shows 9.5 per cent of homes in NSW with solar now have a home battery, while in South Australia its 13.9 per cent and just 4 per cent in Queensland with another 160,000 installations slated across Australia in the next 12 months.
Additional reporting by Kaylee Cranley
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