Behind-the-meter battery adoption in Australia with Jess Padman (Director of Energy Products @ National Renewable Network)

May 14, 2025

Jess Padman, Director of Energy Products at the National Renewable Network, shares insights on the solar energy landscape in Australia. With over three million households utilizing rooftop solar, the discussion shifts to the emerging trend of home battery adoption. Jess highlights the drivers for battery storage, such as energy independence and changing grid dynamics. Barriers like upfront costs and fragmented suppliers are examined. She also emphasizes innovative ownership models that could make renewable energy more accessible for everyone.

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ANECDOTE

Jess Padman's Energy Journey

Jess Padman transitioned from oil and gas engineering into sustainable energy, focusing on behind-the-meter solar and battery demand response products.
She led one of the first strategies at Energy Australia to address emerging distributed energy flexibility and the rise of batteries.

INSIGHT

Retailers' Solar and Battery Challenge

Retailers lose gross margin when customers install solar and batteries but seek to compensate by investing in solar installation and battery trading.
Virtual power plants (VPPs) emerged as engagement tools, but monetizing them remains unresolved for many retailers.

INSIGHT

NRN's Innovative Solar-Battery Model

NRN installs solar and batteries at no upfront cost, enabling customers to access cheaper retail energy plans through licensed asset usage.
This model benefits retailers by allowing them to sell full energy amounts while offering customers savings and greener energy.

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Australia has long been a global leader in residential solar adoption, with more than three million households now generating electricity from rooftop panels. This remarkable uptake has transformed how energy is produced and consumed at the household level, positioning Australia at the forefront of distributed energy.

But while rooftop solar has become mainstream, the next frontier of the energy transition. Widespread adoption of home battery storage is still in its early stages. As energy markets evolve, the value of grid exports is changing and resilience is becoming increasingly important and home batteries play a crucial role in unlocking the full potential of distributed energy systems.

To truly scale domestic storage, new models for ownership and financing are emerging. Shifting the conversation from technology to access. In this episode, we explore what’s driving demand for household batteries, what’s holding it back, and how smart coordination of home energy systems could transform both household economics and grid outcomes.

In this episode of Transmission, Wendel is joined by Jess Padman, Director of Energy Products at the National Renewable Network (NRN). Over the course of the conversation, you’ll hear about:

What’s behind the rise in household batteries? From feed-in tariff reductions to energy independence and resilience, what's driving demand.
The barriers to widespread adoption: Upfront cost, policy lag, and a fragmented supplier landscape.
New ownership and financing models for batteries: Why access, not just technology, is key to scaling domestic storage.
The role of smart coordination in the home: Coordinating solar, batteries, and appliances to maximise value for households and the grid.
Australia as a testbed for residential energy innovation: How policy, culture, and infrastructure have created one of the world’s most dynamic residential energy markets.

About our guest

Jess Padman is Director of Energy Products at the National Renewable Network (NRN). With a background in distributed energy, solar programs, and product development, Jess focuses on bringing smart, scalable solutions to the residential energy market, helping more Australians access the benefits of rooftop solar and battery storage.