Program Overview
Launching on July 1, 2025, the Cheaper Home Batteries Program offers an up-front discount for the purchase and installation of home batteries, expected to reduce household costs by approximately 30%. This initiative expands on the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), which has successfully provided a framework for the popular national solar panel rebate. The subsidy will also be accessible to small businesses and community facilities.
Key Features
- The government battery rebate is uncapped, meaning there is no limit on the number of subsidies available.
- While the official start date is July 1, 2025, solar batteries installed before this date may still qualify, provided they remain inactive until July 1, 2025.
Rebate Amount
- Starting in 2025, the subsidy will offer up to $372 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of usable battery capacity, leading to an approximate price reduction of $330 after administrative fees.
- For a home battery with a 10kWh usable capacity, the incentive will amount to $3,720 in 2025, reducing installation costs by around $3,300.
- This rebate can only be claimed once per household, so the more batteries you install, the larger the rebate will be. (For Example – 5kWh = $1860 up to 50kWh = $18,600).
To qualify for the rebate, the batteries must:
- Be approved by the Clean Energy Council and installed by accredited professionals.
- Have a minimum usable capacity of 5 kWh and a maximum of 50 kWh (systems up to 100 kWh can be installed while still qualifying for the rebate based on a 50kWh system).
- Be capable of connecting to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), though joining a VPP is not mandatory.
When and how?
The rebate officially begins on July 1, 2025, but there’s excellent news: you don’t have to wait to install your battery. Any eligible battery installed after April 2025 can still receive the rebate, provided it is activated after July 1 2025.
Installers can commission (activate) your battery once the program starts, allowing you to enjoy the savings. This program will be managed through the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)—the same system that has long offered solar panel rebates. There’s no limit to the number of households that can participate, and the scheme is expected to continue for several years (likely until around 2030), with the rebate amount gradually decreasing as battery prices decline.