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The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program takes up to 30% off the cost of a home battery from 5kWh to 100kWh. It is officially a discount
rather than a rebate, but most people search for the rebate, so you will see both words here. Enter your battery size and installation date
below to see your estimate.
Federal battery REBATE CALCULATOR
Pick your battery size and when it will be installed. The estimate updates as you go.
Enter a capacity between 5 and 100 kWh to be eligible.
Estimated upfront discount
$3,185
About 91 STCs at 6.8 per kWh
Installed in Jan to Jun 2027 instead: about $2,660, which is $525 less.
Or call (02) 4966 2756, Mon to Thu, 8am to 3pm
Estimate only. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program is technically a discount off the installed price, paid through small scale technology certificates (STCs). Figures use about $35 per STC and the rates in effect from 1 May 2026. STC prices vary, so your quote may differ. Batteries from 5kWh to 100kWh qualify, and the discount counts capacity up to 50kWh.
The discount is paid as small scale technology certificates (STCs). The number of STCs depends on your battery's usable capacity, how that capacity is tiered, and the STC factor for your installation period.
STCs = tiered kWh x STC factor
The tiers, as set out in the May 2026 changes:
STCs are rounded down to a whole number, then valued at about $35 each. That price varies, so treat every figure as an estimate.
Example: a 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall 3 installed between 1 May and 31 December 2026 earns about 91 STCs. At roughly $35 per STC, that is about $3,185 off the installed price.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a federal incentive that cuts the upfront price of a home battery. Homeowners and businesses can claim it on a new battery or on an expansion to an existing system, as long as the battery has not already been claimed under the program and is installed by an SAA accredited installer.
Whilst technically not a rebate as it acts a discount, the incentive is designed to provide up to 30% off the total battery cost from 5kWh - 100kWh of energy capacity.
The federal government battery subsidy will join the existing solar rebate under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme that are both designed to help offset the total cost of systems which slowly decrease until 2030.
The Federal solar battery subsidy is different to the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme battery rebate which got suspended back in June 2025. The PDRS still offers VPP rebates.
|
Installation Period |
STC Factor per kWh |
Powerwall 3 Cost Estimate |
| 1 May to 31 December 2026 | 6.8 | about $3,185 |
| January to June 2027 | 5.7 | about $2,660 |
| July to December 2027 | 5.2 | about $2,450 |
| January to June 2028 | 4.6 | about $2,170 |
Until 2030, the federal battery rebate in Australia will diminish as the STC factor reduces every 6
months. The below chart describes the timelines from now until 2030, the STC factor changes each drop, and how much the discount will be
for 13.5kW, 20kWh, and 40kWh batteries.
Applying for the Australian battery incentive is no different to getting a traditional quote from your local installer. By getting a quote
from your local SAA-accredited battery installer, they'll choose from a list of CEC-approved eligible batteries, and if they're like us, they'll
give you the upfront discount in
your supply and installation quote.
Get a free quote by a SAA-accredited solar and battery installer, on eligible battery unit and expansion options.
You can claim the federal battery incentive by accepting a battery quote that includes the upfront discount.
Once installed, start reaping the benefits from day one like 24/7 backup energy and more sustainability.
Federal Government Battery Subsidy
Simply fill out this form to claim the federal government battery subsidy, and get free quoting, consultation, and proposals on solar, battery, EV charging, and electrical in the Newcastle, Maitland, and Hunter region.
I don't see any prices?
We're an installer who provides custom, tailor-made systems for
every customer. This means that we don't sell standard 'one-size-fits-all' systems, as each property will have unique requirements
which will vary in price.
Why Choose Elite Power Group?
We're Newcastle's choice for battery storage systems, and can help you claim the battery rebate and maximise your savings and performance.
Not every battery brand and model is going to be eligible for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. To be
eligible to claim the incentive, batteries will need to conform to the program's requirements of being under 100kWh, CEC-approved,
VPP-compatible, and be installed by a SAA-accredited installer along with a solar system. Below is a breakdown of the battery eligibility
requirements for the battery subsidy.
5kWh - 100kWh of capacity (discount will be provided for up to 50kWh).
Battery must be a single battery unit (can be a modular unit like Sungrow or BYD).
The battery and inverter must be listed on the CEC approved list.
Must be VPP-compatible, but doesn’t need to be connected to one.
Must be installed by a SAA-accredited battery installer.
The battery needs to be installed with an existing or new solar system.
If you're looking for eligible battery options for the Australian battery subsidy, they will need to meet
the program's requirements. Brands that we highly-recommend that also meet these requirements include Tesla Powerwall 3, Sungrow
SBH & SBR series, and GoodWe's ESA series.
|
Battery Brand & Model |
Usable Capacity |
Estimated Rebate Value |
Single Unit |
CEC approved |
VPP-compatible |
Eligible for the scheme |
| Tesla Powerwall 3 |
13.5kWh |
-$3,185 |
|
|
|
|
| Sungrow SBH series |
20kWh - 40 kWh |
-$4,165 to -$5,740 |
|
|
|
|
| Sungrow SBR series |
6.4kWh – 25.6 kWh |
-$2,275 to -$4,970 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fronius Reserva Battery |
6.3kWh - 15.8kWh |
-$1,470 to -$3,570 |
|
|
|
|
|
GoodWe ESA Series Battery |
8kWh - 48kWh |
-$1,890 to -$6,020 |
|
|
|
|
| BYD Battery-Box HVM |
8.3kWh – 22 kWh |
-$1,960 to -$4,445 |
|
|
|
|
*Capacity above 14kWh calculated at 60% STC factor. All figures are estimates based on ~$35/STC after administration costs and will vary.
Australian Battery Rebate
To find out how much you can save through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, use the federal battery rebate calculator above. Here you can find out how much your eligible battery could save you.
By selecting your battery's energy capacity, you can get an estimate your savings potential. For example, a Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) offers up to $3,955 off (based on first-half 2026 numbers.).
A Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) installed between 1 May and 31 December 2026 earns about $3,185 off the installed price.
Battery Expansions
Yes, you can claim the battery rebate for module expansions to increase capacity. If you own a property that already has a battery installed, you can claim the subsidy on system expansions that meet the following requirements:
The battery hasn’t been claimed previously under the scheme.
To be eligible, the system expansion needs to be at least 5kWh.
Does not exceed 100kWh in nominal capacity to be eligible.
Similar to how the Australian solar subsidy works, your battery generates small-scale technology certificates (STCs) , where the amount is determined by the total useable kWh capacity of the battery.
As of May 2026, the current subsidy value is 6.8 STCs per kWh. This will continue to decrease every six
months until 2030. Below is the full pricing structure until the scheme ends.
|
Year |
1 JAN - 30 APR |
CURRENT 1 MAY - 31 DEC |
2027 (H1) |
2027 (H2) |
2028 (H1) |
2028 (H2) |
2029 (H1) |
2029 (H2) |
2030 (H1) |
2030 (H2) |
| [Current] STC factor | 8.4 |
6.8 |
5.7 |
5.2 | 4.6 |
4.1 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
| [Current] approx. Tesla Powerwall 3 savings (13.5kWh) | $3,955 | $3,185 |
$2,660 |
$2,450 | $2,170 | $1,925 | $1,680 | $1,435 | $1,225 | $980 |
| [Current] approx. Value p/kWh | $294 | $238 | $199.5 | $182 |
$161 |
$143.5 | $126 |
$108.5 | $91 |
$73.5 |
When you accommodate elements like installers opting for STC traders, fluctuations in STC value, administration and trading fees, the
value will be closer to around $35 per STC which will vary. Download
the STC Summary. Estimated discount values don't include the reduced STC factor percentage as Tesla Powerwall sits under 14kWh.
With unlimited options and capacities, it can be hard finding the best
battery for your Newcastle-based home or business. Whilst we can help find you the best battery, here are 6 ways on how to determine the best solar battery for your property.
Each home will have unique energy consumption habits. If you mainly consume energy at night, battery storage may be perfect for you to help store the energy you harness throughout the day.
Your solar system size will help identify the ideal sized battery to ensure you're maximising the energy you generate. Determining your solar production will help indicate how much excess you have.
Whilst you can size your battery to help offset nighttime energy usage, wanting additional backup energy reserves for grid failures will require more energy capacity to keep your lights on during extended outages.
By reviewing your daily usage average, you can find a ballpark number to run with.
With 13.5kWh of energy storage, Tesla Powerwall 3 would be well-suited for the average
household's consumption.
Investing in a battery with scalability ensures flexibility if you ever wanted to upgrade in the future if your energy requirements change. Batteries like Sungrow are stackable and modular by just adding another module.
Your budget will be a factor in finding the right bang-for-buck solution. Budget constraints will play a part in determining the capacity and help narrow down mid and top-tier solutions.
Explore eligible battery storage for the Federal Battery Rebate Incentive and get a discount on your first battery or expansion.
Eligible batteries for the Cheaper Home Battery Program includes Tesla Powerwall 3, Sungrow SBR, Sungrow SBH batteries, and BYD Battery-Box, which all meet the subsidy's
Being eligible for the Australian Battery Subsidy, Tesla Powerwall 3 can help you maximise your incentive savings and solar generation with its 13.5 kWh capacity.
With a built-in solar inverter, Tesla Powerwall 3 is a perfect solution for new homes that want a minimalistic storage system, that also packs a punch with its impressive features.
SBH100/150/200/250/300/350/400
SBR064/96/128/160/192/224/256
Virtual Power Plants
Battery storage options like Tesla Powerwall 3, Sungrow SBH and SBR, as well as BYD Battery-Box are all VPP-compatible and are eligible for the Australian battery subsidy.
A Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is essentially a large network of decentralised homes and businesses that are orchestrated to balance grid demand and supply.
Whilst batteries claimed under this incentive are required to be VPP-compatible, there is no requirement for the battery to be connected to a VPP to be eligible.
Additionally, you can claim a rebate on connecting your battery to a Virtual Power Plant network through the VPP rebate.
Our Newcastle-based team of experienced installers provide accurate and free quoting on not only battery systems, but also provide quotes with incorporated incentive pricing for solar systems. Make it easy and order a full solar and battery system through us and be assured that you know what you're in for before any money exchanges hands.
We don't sell you a system that you don't need.
There is a huge opportunity for new and existing solar owners like you, to take advantage of the energy YOU generate. Maximise your savings today and reap the benefits of energy independence.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
What the Clean Energy Council's January to June 2026 report found on rooftop solar, home batteries, forecasts and complaints, and how to read the figures.
Read moreFind available rebates & subsidies for solar systems, battery storage, and VPPs in NSW. Explore eligibility and maximise live incentives today.
Read moreNot sure which battery matches your solar system? Compare solar & battery size combinations, from 6.6kW to 13.3kW+, & find the right fit in Newcastle.
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