Home Battery Rebates, Discounts & Loans in Australia

Australian home battery incentives come from three distinct sources, and understanding the difference matters when planning your purchase:

• 1
  Federal programs: Federal support: the Cheaper Home Batteries Program operates through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). Eligible systems create small-scale technology certificates (STCs), which can be assigned to a registered agent for an upfront discount.
• 2
  State and territory schemes: State and territory schemes vary by jurisdiction. Some offer rebates, subsidised loans or other support subject to their own eligibility rules.
• 3
  Virtual Power Plant (VPP) incentives: VPP incentives can come from government schemes, electricity retailers or VPP providers. Payments, eligibility and control arrangements vary by program.

The Australian Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program commenced on 1 July 2025. It supports eligible battery systems connected to new or existing solar PV through small-scale technology certificates under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. The Australian Government describes the support as around 30% of the upfront installation cost for a range of eligible systems.

From 1 May 2026, the STC calculation changed. For installations from May to December 2026, the STC factor is 6.8. The factor applies at 100% for the first 14 kWh of usable capacity, 60% for the portion above 14 to 28 kWh, and 15% for the portion above 28 to 50 kWh.

Eligible battery systems must have a nominal capacity between 5 and 100 kWh. STCs are provided only for the first 50 kWh of usable capacity.

An upfront discount can be provided when you assign your right to create STCs to a registered agent. You can also choose to create and sell the STCs yourself.

Always verify the current program status, funding availability, and eligibility criteria at the official national program page: energy.gov.au: Cheaper Home Batteries Program . For a broader view of national incentives, visit the government's general solar directory at energy.gov.au: rebates and loans .

A Virtual Power Plant coordinates participating batteries so stored energy can be dispatched or exported under the terms of the VPP offer. Payments and control arrangements vary by provider and program.

VPP financial benefits can include upfront incentives, bill credits or payments linked to exports or dispatch events. The structure varies by provider.

To participate, you need a battery and control system supported by the VPP offer, plus any communications and metering required by that program. Check the provider's compatibility requirements and terms before buying equipment.

Under the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, a grid-connected battery must be VPP-capable, but VPP participation is not mandatory. By contrast, the WA Residential Battery Scheme requires eligible applicants to join a VPP product.

A practical starting point is your state or territory energy website and the current offers published by participating electricity retailers or VPP providers.

There is no single Australian rule for combining battery and EV-charger support. Whether incentives can be combined depends on the terms of each program.

Some schemes can include both battery storage and EV charging infrastructure, while others prohibit overlapping incentives for the same installation or impose combined funding limits.

For example, the ACT Sustainable Household Scheme lists both household battery storage and EV charging infrastructure as eligible products within the scheme's overall loan limit.

Check the current rules of each program before signing a contract or ordering equipment.