Living off-grid not a reality yet: experts

Home battery packs that will allow people to disconnect from the electricity grid are a long way from reality, according to Australian experts.

The Tesla electric car company grabbed global attention this month when it announced its Powerwall home battery system - designed to store electricity from rooftop solar systems and due to go on sale in Australia in 2016.

Australian energy experts who delivered a briefing on home batteries in Canberra on Thursday, say most people would still need to stay connected to the grid to ensure reliable power supplies at this stage.