The future of home energy management: A forum on home battery installation and advice

The ANU Centre for Energy Systems is hosting a free in-person forum to support our clean energy workforce in shaping the customer energy experience.

The Federal Government is sending clear signals to industry that rooftop solar and home batteries have an important role to play in the nation’s future electricity system. The hugely popular cheaper home batteries program and recently announced Solar Sharer scheme, offering free electricity to households for at least three hours in the middle of the day, are examples in point.

But what does this shift mean for battery installers?

Solar panels, home batteries and the rapidly evolving home energy technologies present a host of technical, consumer-facing and business-model challenges, and installers often carry the responsibility of helping customers understand complex energy choices while installing devices in customer homes. This forum is your chance to ensure industry expectations, consumer needs, and installer realities line up.

We will share insights from industry experts and our research, and we would like your help shaping our draft consumer advisory competency framework. It’s a practical guide to the knowledge and communication skills that help installers give clear, confident advice to customers.

What: The future of home energy management: A forum on home battery installation and advice
When: 9 – 1 pm, Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Where: Business NSW Events Centre, 8 Chifley Square (next door to 52 Martin Place), Sydney
Who: This event is open to battery installers, installer businesses, installer apprentices/trainees, vocational education and training professionals, consumer advocates and industry representatives.
Why: To help tradespeople shape the customer energy experience.

Draft agenda:

9am for a 9.30 start (tea & coffee on arrival)

9.30 am: Welcome and introduction

9.40 am: Keynote speaker TBA

10 am: Session 1: Real-world installation challenges & insights

10.30 am: Session 2: What good customer advice looks like in practice

11 am: Whole Group Discussion

11.20 am: Morning Tea

11.40 am: Session 3: Shaping a Consumer Advisory Framework

12.30 pm: Lunch and industry networking

This is a free industry event inclusive of morning tea and lunch.

Thank you to the Clean Energy Batteries, TAFE Centre of Excellence for funding this event.