Correct as of 21st Nov 2025
The Federal Labor Government’s $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, started on 1st July 2025 – allowing households to purchase a home battery with an estimated 30% discount on typical installed costs. This will help households reduce reliance on fossil fuels – and take back control of their power costs!
Here’s what we know:
- The battery must be commissioned after 1st July 2025
- Minimum 5kWh, max 100kWh (but only claimable up to 50kWh) of ‘useable’ storage capacity
- The battery needs to be connected to a new or existing solar system
- Can be a battery expansion, provided all existing equipment is CEC-listed, or has not been removed for safety concerns
- If adding to an off-grid system that is not VPP-capable, written evidence from DNSP must be provided showing cost of connection over $30,000
- Installation completed by an appropriately accredited installer
- Components must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list
- If grid-connected, or off-grid within 1km of the grid, the system must be VPP-capable
- One rebate per property for grid-connected properties
- One rebate per dwelling for off-grid properties (conditions and additional evidence apply for claims on additional dwellings)
- Can receive this rebate together with other rebates (depending on the conditions of the other rebate – this is a quickly-moving area so best to double-check this at the time of purchase)
The subsidy is an extension of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, and the Government announced the rebate value at a maximum of $372.00 per kWh of usable battery capacity. However, the end value for homeowners will be less than this, for several reasons (lower certificate trading price, and trader fees/charges being the main two), and we estimate the value to be closer to $320-340 per kWh.
Recent changes will see the rebate value decline every 6 months, instead of the original 12 months. The first significant drop will happen for systems installed after 30th April 2026.
As well as more regular value deductions, from 1st May 2026, the rebate will also be tiered to reduce the amount of rebate received for larger battery sizes.
- From 0 kWh up to 14 kWh (inclusive): 100% STC value
- Every kWh greater than 14 and up to 28 kWh (inclusive): 60% STC value
- Every kWh greater than 28 and up to 50 kWh (inclusive): 15% STC value
Check out our Off-Grid Systems
More details on the Cheaper Home Batteries Program can be found here;
https://cer.gov.au/schemes/renewable-energy-target/small-scale-renewable-energy-scheme/small-scale-renewable-energy-systems/solar-batteries
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/cheaper-home-batteries
