A record number of batteries were installed across Australia in 2023, in homes, businesses and at grid-scale, according to a new report from solar and storage market analyst SunWiz.

According to the 2024 Annual SunWiz Australian Battery Market Report, a record 57,000 battery systems, or energy storage systems, were installed in Australian homes in 2023. This represented 21% growth on installation levels from the previous year in 2022 and saw a record-setting 656MWh of residential battery capacity come online.

“Last year, 2023, was the year of the big battery, with deployment levels at twice their previous record. 2024 will be even bigger with the capacity currently under construction at six times the amount at the same point last year,” SunWiz managing director Warwick Johnston says.

“Despite the massive year for grid-scale storage, home energy storage systems remain the largest cumulative source of battery capacity, at least for the time being.”

A record-breaking level of installations in businesses contributed to the increase with 402MWh, on top of which, grid-scale projects, publicly known as big batteries, totalled a record 1,410MWh of capacity installed.

Altogether, a record total of 2,468MWh of energy storage capacity was deployed in Australia in 2023. As the typical home uses 20kWh per day, the batteries installed in 2023 were enough to meet the energy needs of 125,000 homes.