Expert Insights on Solar, Batteries and Power Bills
A collection of energy explainers, customer stories and industry perspectives from our crew here at Amber.
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From winter price volatility, 5-minute settlement, to V2G, Chris is back to fill you in on what's been happening at Amber.
There’s a rebellion happening in homes across the country. Aussies are ditching power plans from traditional retailers. They're charging their batteries when energy is cheap. Selling it back when prices spike. And taking control of their energy, with smaller bills and faster payback. We’ve launched a new campaign to celebrate this shift: Australians are Revolting, a tongue-in-cheek nod to the everyday Aussies taking a calculated stand against overpriced energy – with solar and batteries on their side.
Australia’s long-awaited home battery rebate is now live. That means eligible households can get thousands of dollars off the upfront cost of a home battery. With that comes the power to take control of your energy bills and unlock smarter, cleaner, more flexible energy at home.It’s a huge moment. But while the rebate makes batteries more accessible, it also raises a new set of questions: What kind of battery should you get? Who’s eligible? How do you make sure your battery actually pays off, and fast?Here’s what to know, and what to do next.
In the heart of Sydney’s inner west, Anthony lives with his wife Bridget and their teenage son in a single-storey terrace that’s over a century old. It might not look futuristic from the outside, but inside - and especially on the roof - it’s a different story.
Installing a home battery is one of the smartest steps you can take to make the most of your solar system, reduce your energy bills, and prepare for a future powered by renewables. But with so many home battery storage options on the market, how do you choose the best home battery for solar? This guide walks you through the key factors to consider - whether you're just starting your solar journey or looking to upgrade your setup.
Australia has long led the world in rooftop solar adoption. More than 3.6 million Australian households have installed solar panels, taking control of their energy use and cutting their bills along the way. But while solar panels are an excellent first step, the next big opportunity for solar homes is clear: adding a battery.
As more households invest in solar, batteries, and smart energy technology, one term keeps popping up: Virtual Power Plant (VPP). And for good reason. VPPs represent an important piece of Australia’s energy future, allowing thousands of individual homes and devices to help stabilise the grid, support renewables, and create new income streams for households. Amber’s approach is often compared to a VPP. In fact, Amber qualifies as a VPP for the purposes of rebate schemes like the NSW battery rebate. While Amber for Batteries has some overlaps with traditional VPPs, such as how we allow household batteries to contribute to grid stability and the energy transition, the way we operate is quite different. Let’s unpack what those differences are - and why they matter for your household finances.
A year after joining Amber with his two Powerwalls, David is $2,146 in credit. That’s after powering everything, including two Tesla EVs, hot water, heating, cooling and cooking for five people in a busy home. He says the "magic" happens on a handful of nights a year when prices spike.
