Australian solar and battery guide
How the Australian home battery discount works in 2026
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program can reduce the upfront price of an eligible solar battery. The amount depends on the system and installation date, so a single advertised dollar figure is not reliable for every home.
By Solvetted · Reviewed · General information
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What the federal program does
The program operates through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. An eligible battery connected to new or existing rooftop solar can create small-scale technology certificates (STCs). A registered agent may offer an upfront discount when the customer assigns the right to claim those certificates.
A quote should identify the battery and installed price, show the certificate discount separately and explain any other claimed incentive. The program is not a fixed cash payment to every buyer.
What changed on 1 May 2026
The certificate calculation changed for installations from 1 May 2026. Support now tapers across usable-capacity bands, and the certificate factor reduces more frequently over time. This means the incentive per additional kilowatt-hour is not uniform across larger batteries.
The Clean Energy Regulator says the applicable rebate depends on the installation date, not the date you signed a contract. Check the current official calculator and rules for the proposed installation date and system before accepting a quoted discount.
The numbers, size by size
At 6.8 certificates per kWh (installations to 31 December 2026) and an assumed $38 a certificate, the discount is about $1,290 for 5 kWh, $2,580 for 10 kWh, $3,620 for 14 kWh, $4,550 for 20 kWh, $5,790 for 28 kWh, $6,250 for 40 kWh. From 1 January 2027 (5.7 certificates per kWh) the same sizes get about $1,080, $2,170, $3,030, $3,810, $4,850, $5,240. The first 14 kWh earn the full rate, 14 to 28 kWh earn 60%, 28 to 50 kWh earn 15% and nothing above 50 kWh, so going from 20 to 40 kWh adds only about $1,710 of discount today. Certificate prices move, so treat these as estimates.
The certificate factor falls every six months: May 2026: 6.8; January 2027: 5.7; July 2027: 5.2; January 2028: 4.6; July 2028: 4.1; January 2029: 3.6; July 2029: 3.1; January 2030: 2.6; July 2030: 2.1. What counts is the installation date, not the date you sign, so a quote that assumes this year's discount for an installation next year will be wrong.
Compare the full installed price
A discount can make a battery cheaper, but it does not prove the battery is worthwhile for your household. Compare net installed prices, usable capacity, energy you can actually shift, backup configuration and warranty terms. Test the added value of a bigger unit separately.
State or territory programs and retailer offers may have additional eligibility rules or interaction with federal support. Verify those terms directly with the relevant program, and ask an installer to show all assumptions in writing.
Start with your home
See the discount on your size.
Typical prices after the discount, the payback for each size, and when the discount next steps down.