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, dives into Australia's booming residential battery market. She discusses the factors driving battery adoption, from energy independence to changing feed-in tariffs. Challenges like upfront costs and fragmented suppliers are highlighted as barriers to widespread use. The conversation also touches on innovative financing models and the potential of smart home energy systems to transform economics. Ultimately, it’s about making energy access easier and more equitable for all Australians.

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ANECDOTE

Jess's Career Shift to Sustainability

Jess Padman transitioned from oil and gas engineering to sustainable energy after seeking more fulfilling impact.
She has worked on behind-the-meter solar and battery products for about 10 years, beginning in early demand side management.

INSIGHT

Retailers' Solar & Battery Challenge

Energy retailers face a 70% drop in gross margin when customers install solar and batteries.
Retailers experiment with installation and VPPs but haven't cracked a profitable role yet.

INSIGHT

NRN's Solar + Battery Ownership Model

NRN installs solar and batteries at no cost to homeowners, enabling access to cheaper energy plans.
They license these assets to retailers who optimize them and share savings with customers.

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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.