Bunnings Launches Solar and Battery Subscription in Three New States
Hardware powerhouse Bunnings is set to roll out its subscription-based home solar and battery service to urban centres in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, aiming to enhance its presence in the growing energy-as-a-service sector.
Previously launched in Sydney and Newcastle in collaboration with digital energy management firm Intellihub, the Zelora energy-as-a-service initiative offers various solar and battery options that are installed at no upfront cost, with customers paying a monthly fee over a decade-long subscription.
Product Features and Market Impact
The service includes a user-friendly app and incorporates technologies from some of Australia’s leading energy companies, including battery producers SigEnergy and Anker Solix, as well as solar panel supplier Das Solar. Bunnings has developed four straightforward battery options available with or without solar integration, presenting a competitive price point that could disrupt a market traditionally viewed as unaffordable, even with federal rebates.
Bunnings COO Ryan Baker noted that feedback from the pilot program in New South Wales has revealed significant enthusiasm for the Zelora offering, with many customers eager to leap into solar energy and battery solutions; however, the initial costs have posed a challenge for numerous households.
Cost Savings and Customer Convenience
A sample of NSW households participating in the Zelora scheme, equipped with an average battery capacity of 18 kWh, reported a 25 per cent reduction in their energy bills over a three-month summer trial period, inclusive of subscription costs. Baker emphasised that the combination of initial and ongoing savings, along with the convenience of a single point of service, could facilitate many families’ transition towards home electrification.
“Home electrification can be complex, so we have prioritised making Zelora as simple and cost-effective as possible, offering our customers a clear and straightforward solution backed by comprehensive, ongoing support,” Baker explained.
Expanding Product Range and Subscription Details
With this expansion, Zelora will also enhance its range of battery solutions and is developing additional products tailored to various household requirements and budgets. The current service offers four plans, starting from £109 a month for a 15 kWh battery (£114 for Victorian residents) and going up to £308 a month (£329 in Victoria) for a substantial 40 kWh battery coupled with 14.2 kW of solar power.
A monthly subscription for a battery with a capacity between 20-23 kWh begins at £140 for an Anker Solix X1 battery or £170 for a Sigenergy battery. Subscription prices will increase by 2.5 per cent each year to accommodate inflation, culminating in a total cost of £18,882 for the Anker Solix model and £22,885 for the Sigenergy variant over ten years.
Bunnings also guarantees technical support for the duration of the subscription, along with an Intellihub-designed app that automates battery functionality. Additionally, the service does not account for external electricity providers like Amber or Flow Power, which leverage wholesale market prices, or Ovo, which provides three hours of free daytime electricity, potentially enhancing both export revenues and savings.
