The Australian Government has announced a new Cheaper Home Batteries Program that will help more homes tackle bills and emissions.
Australia has the highest rate of rooftop solar in the world, with one in 3 Australian homes having installed rooftop solar. But just one in 40 households have a battery meaning they can't store cheap renewable energy for when they need it most.
From 1 July 2025, households and small businesses may be eligible for around a 30% discount on the upfront cost of installing typical small-scale battery systems alongside new or existing rooftop solar.
The discount will be based on the usable capacity of the battery and will gradually decline through to 2030.
The Australian Government will pay for the discount, which will be available through the Australian Government's Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 will be amended to expand eligibility of the SRES to include batteries.
The discount will typically be available via solar and battery retailers and installers. Claims for small-scale technology certificates (STCs) will be able to be made for eligible installations following implementation of regulations.
Under the program, a household could save around $4,000 off the upfront cost of installing an 11.5kWh battery previously costing around $13,000.
Along with rooftop solar this could deliver savings of $700 to $1,600 per year on a household electricity bill, with the battery delivering $300 to $900 of that.
Small-scale batteries will:
- reduce emissions by helping households to use cheap, clean solar power when they need it
- reduce costs for everyone, not just those who install a battery. This means less need for expensive gas power generation, poles and wires.
