Australia’s electricity system is set to absorb a rapidly growing share of solar energy by shifting it into evening and night hours, thanks to newly added battery capacity, according to data highlighted by Ember. The think tank’s analysis indicates that batteries have become large enough to change how new solar generation will be used in 2025: specifically, batteries are expected to enable 53% of new solar generation to be shifted beyond daytime, reducing the mismatch between when solar panels produce electricity and when demand is highest.
The report’s central point is that the increasing deployment of storage is not merely an add-on for a small subset of households or businesses. Instead, it is beginning to affect system-wide outcomes—particularly electricity affordability. Ember’s findings align with comments from Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister, who emphasized that battery storage can help lower power bills for everyone, not only for those who own rooftop solar plus home batteries. The minister’s framing underscores the broader public benefits of grid-scale and system-level storage, where the value of shifting electricity is realized through improved reliability and reduced reliance on more expensive generation when solar output declines.
In practical terms, moving solar electricity from daytime into later hours addresses a well-known challenge of solar-heavy grids. During sunny periods, solar output can rise quickly and exceed immediate demand, which can compress wholesale prices. As the sun sets, solar production falls sharply and the system must rely on other sources—such as gas generation, hydro, or importing power—often at higher cost. By storing excess solar during the day and releasing it later, batteries can reduce these swings, improve grid flexibility, and lessen the need for costly short-notice generation.
Ember’s data suggests Australia’s recent and planned battery additions are now reaching a scale that can materially impact solar utilization. The headline figure—53% of new solar generation shifted beyond daytime in 2025—signals a transition point where storage is becoming a core part of the operating logic of the grid rather than a niche capability. This is significant because it indicates that the country’s solar expansion is increasingly paired with storage, enabling more consistent use of renewable energy throughout the day.
The minister’s remarks also tie the analysis to wider energy policy priorities. By pointing to the observed and forecasted effect of batteries on bill outcomes, the minister implicitly argues that storage investments are delivering tangible value in the near term. This can strengthen the case for continued support of batteries and related grid upgrades, since the benefits are not restricted to individual consumers who can self-finance storage solutions. If battery capacity can reduce system-level costs, those savings can flow through to retail prices and broader affordability outcomes.
Ember’s annual and forward-looking reporting on energy transitions—often referred to through its GER series—has focused on how changes in generation, policy, and infrastructure combine to shape future power systems. In this context, the organization’s claim that 53% of new solar generation can be shifted beyond daytime by 2025 suggests that Australia’s energy transition is accelerating in the storage dimension as well as in solar deployment. This matters not only for the economics of electricity but also for managing reliability as renewables become a larger share of supply.
The broader narrative is that batteries are increasingly helping to align renewable generation with consumer demand. When storage is sufficiently available, the grid can capture more of the solar electricity that would otherwise be underutilized during daytime peak production. That stored electricity can then meet evening demand peaks, where solar output is limited. Over time, this can contribute to a cleaner and more stable system, potentially reducing emissions associated with fossil generation used during non-solar hours.
However, the significance of Ember’s figure also depends on context—such as how new solar capacity is expected to expand and how battery assets will be dispatched. While the report highlights a forecast outcome for 2025, it also serves as evidence of momentum: enough batteries are being added to make a measurable shift in the fate of new solar generation. The 53% figure therefore functions as both a quantitative milestone and a signal that further storage growth could further increase the fraction of solar energy delivered beyond daylight hours.
In summary, Ember’s analysis says Australia’s added battery capacity is expected to shift 53% of new solar generation beyond daytime in 2025. The development is presented as a system-wide affordability and reliability improvement, not just a benefit for homeowners with batteries. Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister highlighted this point, arguing that batteries can help reduce bills for everyone and citing Ember’s GER2026 analysis as support. Source: Ember.
Ember: Australia added enough battery capacity to shift 53% of new solar generation in 2025 beyond daytime 🔋 🗣️ “Batteries…help reduce bills for everyone, not just those with batteries,” says 🇦🇺’s Climate Change and Energy Minister citing Ember’s #GER2026. #breaking
— @ember_energy May 1, 2026
SHOP AMAZON BEST SELLERS, CLICK TO BUY FROM AMAZON.
SHOP AMAZON BEST SELLERS, CLICK TO BUY FROM AMAZON.
