The Cheaper Home Batteries Program makes it easier for Australians to install battery storage alongside their solar systems.
While Australia has one of the highest rates of rooftop solar in the world, battery adoption has been limited due to high upfront costs. This program helps lower those costs, making batteries more affordable for households, businesses, and community organisations.
Eligible users can receive a discount of around 30% on small-scale battery systems, typically ranging from 5 kWh to 100 kWh. With this support, more homes and businesses are now able to connect batteries to their solar PV systems, helping them store energy and manage electricity use more efficiently.
How to add the battery STC rebate to a quote
The Battery STC Rebate is applied in SolarPlus in the same process as for Solar STCs
- Go to the Pricing > 'Rebates' tab
- Ensure your chosen STC certificate price is up to date
- Under Battery Rebate click 'Eligible for battery STC' to confirm this is to bee applied to the quote
- If the client is GST-registered, click the Apply GST to STC checkbox
- Based on the designed system size you will see the battery usable capacity shown
- If you wish to adjust the battery usable capacity for the calculation of STCs check the box to 'Manually enter kWh capacity' and enter the amount.
- Visit the 'Edit Quote' tab to review the rebate display
Note that the battery STC 'Eligible' option will be automatically applied in line with your Business Setting after an initial period in which usable capacity for all battery products is being confirmed.
Note that the 'Apply GST' option will be automatically selected for Customers set as Commercial
The discount you qualify for is based on the STC factor applicable on the BATTERY'S INSTALLATION DATE.
The Battery STC rate and tiered rebate calculation are determined entirely by the Expected Install Date set on the Install page of the quote.
If the Expected Install Date is 1 May 2026 to 31st of December 2026, the system automatically applies the May–Dec 2026 STC rates and the tiered battery rebate calculation.
If the Expected Install Date is before 1 May 2026, the system uses the Jan–Apr 2026 (pre-May) calculation method.
If your quote is showing May–Dec 2026 rates, the install date is likely set to on or after 1 May 2026 to 31st of December 2026.
To ensure the correct STC rate and battery rebate are applied, update the Estimated Install Date. Once this date is changed, the system will automatically recalculate and display the updated values.
You can update the Estimated Install Date in any of the following locations:
Rebates page under the Battery section
Install page
Download / Send page
The calculation for Battery STC rebates
As per solar STCs, the claimable amount will decline each year between now and 2030. The government has announced the STC factor for each year as seen in the table below. Starting 1 May 2026, the Government plans for the Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) factor to decrease every six months at a faster rate than previously scheduled. The rebate you receive depends on the battery installation date.
The calculation for the number of STC is:
(Usable-capacity * STC-factor-for-current-year) note: result needs to be rounded down
The STC line item amount is:
STC-certificate * STC-price + GST (if applied)
where STC price is set in the rebates area or previously set in Business Settings.
STC Factor Tapers by Battery Size
From 1 May 2026, the STC factor will also decrease for larger batteries within the program’s supported range. Different capacity bands will receive different percentages of the STC factor:
| Usable Battery Capacity | STC Factor Applied |
|---|---|
| 0–14 kWh (inclusive) | 100% |
| >14–28 kWh (inclusive) | 60% |
| >28–50 kWh (inclusive) | 15% |
This means the rebate per kWh is highest for the first 14 kWh and reduces for each additional kWh beyond that.
Example – May–Dec 2026 (STC Factor 6.8, STC Price $37)
| Battery Size | Jan–Apr 2026 Rebate | May–Dec 2026 Rebate | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | $3,108 | $2,516 | -$592 |
| 25 kWh | $7,770 | $5,180 | -$2,590 |
| 50 kWh | $15,540 | $6,475 | -$9,065 |
How the tapering works: (considering STC factor of 6.8 STCs per kWh)
First 14 kWh → 100% of STC factor (6.8 STCs per kWh)
Next 14 kWh (14–28) → 60% of STC factor (4.08 STCs per kWh)
Remaining 22 kWh (28–50) → 15% of STC factor (1.02 STCs per kWh)
Source: https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/cheaper-home-batteries#toc_1
STC Rebates in Customer View
As per Solar STCs, the battery rebate line item is added below the Retail Price inc-GST and the Final Price.
The line items will display:
- Number of STCs
- Certificate price
- If GST is enabled, it will show the calculated GST included in the line item **
* GST on STC is a point of sale discount and not included in the GST on the system sale quote/invoice. A separate invoice should be generated for the STC sale by the customer and this will include the applicable GST.
Eligibility criteria
- Battery size: 5kWh-100kWh nominal capacity, though the discount will be provided for up to 50kWh of a battery system's usable capacity.
- Date: Commissioned on or after July 1 2025. Can be installed beforehand, but not switched on. A battery system is considered ‘installed’ when it is electrically connected and a certificate of electrical compliance or equivalent is signed which confirms that the system complies with relevant state and territory electrical safety regulations. If you are roughing in before July 1, do not terminate any cables - termination and testing must be done on or after July 1.
- VPP ready. Battery inverter must be capable of participating in a VPP, but doesn't have to actually participate in one. This does not apply to off-grid systems.
-
Sites:
- Residential or Commercial, no means test etc
- Must have PV installed (existing or new)
- Grid connected and Off-grid
- Sites with existing batteries that want to add more are eligible. The subsidy applies to new battery installations.
- According to the CER, other state-based rebates and low-interest loans are still eligible to be claimed, however some state authorities may have conditions that don't allow this, or impose additional requirements. Please check with your state-based authority.
- Can only be claimed once per site
- See the listing here of products that are expected to be compatible
- See here for more information on Eligibility Criteria
Please see for more details: Cheaper Home Batteries Program
See also Solar STC
Subsidies - STCs, LGCs, VEECs, ESCs, PRCs, etc
Comments
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.