Explore the Federal 'Cheaper Home Batteries Program' Subsidy Now
Explore the Federal 'Cheaper Home Batteries Program' Subsidy Now
Starting July 1st 2025, the Federal Government’s $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries
Program Subsidy will assist business and homeowners access solar battery storage, with the mission to help properties throughout Newcastle,
Maitland, and the Hunter, maximise their solar energy and reduce overall network costs for everyone.
Whilst technically not a rebate, the Australian Federal battery subsidy is set to provide around a 30% discount on the initial price of installing solar battery storage systems of up to 50kWh.
The battery incentive will join the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, that is well-known for its successful rooftop solar incentive, which will also slowly decrease until 2030.
Households and businesses in the Newcastle & Maitland region can get a discount on batteries from 5kWh – 50kWh that are in a single unit, or battery expansions if it's a battery that hasn’t yet been claimed under the incentive.
The Federal Battery Subsidy cannot be combined with the NSW battery incentive scheme (PDRS) as the PDRS is being suspensed from June 30th, 2025.
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.
Brand & Model
|
5-100 kWh Capacity
|
Single Unit
|
CEC approved
|
VPP-compatible
|
Eligible for the scheme
|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 |
13.5 kWh |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Sungrow SBH series |
20-40 kWh |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Sungrow SBR series |
6.4 – 25.6 kWh |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| BYD Battery-Box HVM |
8.3 – 22 kWh |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Note that these requirements have been developed to provide guidance for the scheme and eligibility is yet to be confirmed and requirements may be altered.
Battery Rebate Savings
Based on the estimated pricing structure below, we can roughly calculate the estimated discount value based on the battery’s total energy capacity.
For example: A Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) discount with the Federal Battery Rebate would be estimated to be $4,266 off.*
You can use the calculator below to roughly calculate how much your desired battery will be discounted by. To get full quoting for the Newcastle, Maitland, and Hunter area, feel free to contact us!
Use this Federal battery 'Rebate' Subsidy Calculator and calculate your estimated savings based on your battery's energy capacity.
Note: this incentive is technically not a rebate as it is a discount off the installation cost of your battery. Pricing from the subsidy calculator is only indicative.
For an accurate quote, feel free to send an enquiry form, message, or call us.
If you a property in Newcastle or Maitland 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.
Feel free to either get in contact with us about ordering a battery specific to your needs, or sign up for updates by using this easy form!
We provide free quoting for a range of homes and businesses, and understand that every property will have its own unique requirements.
We service the Maitland, Newcastle, and Hunter regions in NSW.
Similar to how the Australian solar subsidy works, your battery will generate small-scale technology certificates (STCs) where the amount is determined by the total useable kWh capacity of the battery.
Starting in 2025, each kWh will generate 9.3 STCs, which is approximately $372 per kWh.
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 $34 per STC, or $316 per kWh.
Because it is a part of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, these discounts diminish each year until
2030. Below is the pricing structure of the Federal battery subsidy until 2030.
|
Year |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
|
Estimated Value per kWh |
$316 |
$286 |
$252 |
$221 |
$190 |
$160 |
|
STC factor |
9.3 |
8.4 |
7.4 |
6.5 |
5.6 |
4.7 |
The estimated value is approximate and is based on $34 per STC, which will vary due to a few factors.
Avoiding Delays
The Federal Government considers a battery installation to be ‘when a certificate of electrical compliance or equivalent is signed which confirms that the system complies with relevant state and territory electrical safety regulations.’.
This essentially means that homes and businesses in Newcastle, Maitland, and the Hunter can physically install their battery storage now, and once July 1 arrives, then the battery can be commissioned and turned on to be eligible.
Homes and businesses without solar can get their solar system and battery installed now, with the solar being activated on day one.
Off-grid Battery Incentive
Yes, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program is open to both grid-connected and off-grid properties. Hunter off-grid properties will need to be at least one kilometre away from a main grid line, or in a circumstance where the cost to connect to the grid is beyond $30k.
If an off-grid property is claiming the Cheaper Home Batteries Program subsidy, the battery does not need to be VPP compatible to be eligible.
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.
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 requirements.
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
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.
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.
When trying to find a Newcastle or Maitland-based installer to help you install a solar or battery
system, there are many options to choose from which can make it a challenging decision! Here's how to find the best solar battery
installer near you.
Solutions-Focused
Instead of selling you a standard battery system, our team are focused on providing a tailor-made solution that meets your requirements and budget.
Customer-first Mentality
From when we first meet, we want to ensure a positive experience
which exceeds expectations with accessible post-installation support.
Local Industry Professionals
Unlike other businesses through Newcastle area, our team specialise in not just solar and battery storage but are proficient in electrical and EV charging too!
Certified Installers
The Elite Power Group team have invested in becoming CEC/SAA accredited designers and installers to ensure systems are reliable and of the highest quality.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Compare the difference between Sungrow's SBH and SBR battery storage vs. BYD Battery-Box and find what battery is better for homes or businesses in NSW.
The NSW Government have announced that the NSW Battery Rebate (PDRS) will be suspended on June 30th, 2025, and will no longer be available.
Explore Australia's Federal Government solar battery rebate subsidy like eligibility, approved batteries, requirements, and more about the upcoming incentive.