Queensland Government-owned power company Energex has started a trial of Tesla’s Powerwall energy storage battery, commencing with installation of the first system in the country. Trial will go for the next year, in which time the government will look at options for financial incentives for customers cutting use of grid electricity…Energex will be collecting data throughout the 12 month trial, which is planned to expand to include installations of systems in the homes of employees and consumers…” trial would give energy companies vital information about the effect of solar batteries on peak demand, allowing them to plan for <less> infrastructure or reduction of power generation.

“Queensland now has one of the highest solar [photo voltaic] take-up rates in the world, higher than Hawaii, or Germany, or California and leading the nation,” says Energy minister, Mark Bailey…“We must manage this transition to clean energy — consumers want it, the public wants it, it benefits everybody and this is a very exciting day.”

>more> Gizmodo