When former Kiama High student Mateo Goytizolo returned home after being medically discharged from the army, one of the first things he did was reach out to his old school mates.

It turned out to be a lightbulb moment for the army private, and politics, philosophy and economics graduate.

Kiama High School friends Ben Falconer and Jaden Manley were working in the solar energy industry. Ben as a Kiama-based electrician and owner of Solar Storm and Jaden as a systems design specialist in solar sales.

Now in their late 20s, the trio lost touch after high school when Mateo went to university and was posted to Townsville. But when he reached out it was like stepping back in time and the tight-knit group of friends reconnected.

The bond grew deeper when they started working on their business project - All Australian Energy - in November before launching it early this year.

“We decided to put our brains together and that was enough to equal one pretty sharp brain,” joked Mateo.

All Australian Energy installs solar panels and batteries and along with the trio, employs five other ex-Kiama High School students as sales representatives.

“We are keeping our business in the community to help the community,” says Mateo.

With the push for renewables a key election topic and some Kiama suburbs experiencing frequent blackouts, Mateo expects interest in solar panels and battery storage to increase.

Australia is a world leader in solar energy production, with solar panels installed on more than four million homes, but less than five per cent have battery storage.

The federal government recently launched its Cheaper Home Battery Program, offering a 30 per cent discount on the up-front cost of a home battery.

If Labor retains government, and the promised solar battery storage rebates are delivered, Mateo says the technology will become much more cost effective and even allow users to make money from solar power.

“If people want to profit from solar power we link them to our partner Amber Electric,” he says.

“People can then export their excess energy into the grid during peak periods of high demand to maximise the bang for their buck.”

Mateo expects energy bills to continue rising and says a passive income from solar and battery energy can help reduce the cost of living.

But he has a word of warning for those interested in solar battery storage. “I would recommend doing your homework,” he says.

“The solar and battery company you choose should be an approved seller and have all the correct qualifications to claim the new rebate on your behalf through an Accredited Certificate Provider."

Mateo has urged those interested in exploring their solar panel and solar battery options to keep it local and contact the team for a consultation.

“We can send a system design specialist to look at people’s energy bills and then design an energy system for their needs,” says Mateo.

“Solar panels were quite expensive when they first came onto the market but they are now very cost effective. If these solar battery rebates do come through batteries will be much more affordable.

“We install premium Australian-made RedEarth Energy batteries that come with 100% Blackout Protection and can power your entire home.

"It's difficult to navigate your way around solar and batteries at the moment, but we tailor our solar and battery systems specifically to your home's energy consumption habits, ensuring you are completely energy independent, regardless of government policies or power outages."