Cheaper Home Batteries Program
Store your solar power, slash your electricity bills, and secure a massive upfront discount.
The Australian Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a federal initiative designed to help households and businesses reduce their reliance on the grid.
Launched in July 2025 and operating under the proven Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), this program provides a substantial upfront discount on the cost of eligible solar battery storage systems.
Rather than a traditional cash-back rebate you have to wait for, this scheme acts as a point-of-sale discount, which means adding a battery to your new or existing solar system is now more affordable than ever!
How it Works:
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program uses the same Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) system that drives rooftop solar discounts. When you install an eligible battery, it creates STCs based on its capacity and the remaining years of the scheme. Because STC values fluctuate on the open market, navigating them can be tricky.
As a trusted, Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA)-accredited retailer, SAE Group handles all the complex trading and compliance. We calculate the STC value of your chosen battery and deduct it straight off your final invoice.
The Benefits of STCs:
-
Immediate Upfront Discount
Your rebate is applied directly to your SAE Solar quote - no post-installation paperwork, or waiting for government funds. -
Energy Independence
Store your excess daytime solar energy to power your home at night or during blackouts.
-
Stackable Savings
In many cases, the federal battery discount can be stacked with existing state-level rebates. -
Not Means-Tested
Available to all Australian homeowners, small businesses, and community facilities, regardless of income.
What the Incentive Gives You & How Much You Can Save
The program is designed to cover approximately 30% of the upfront cost of an eligible home battery. The discount is calculated based on the usable capacity (kWh) of the battery you choose, currently sitting at around $252 per usable kWh for the remainder of 2026.
For typical residential battery systems, the savings are significant:
10kWh Battery
Save approx.
$2,516
e.g. Sungrow, or BYD Battery
13-14kWh Battery
Save approx.
$3,528
e.g. Tesla Powerwall 3
Maximum Subsidy
Save over
$6,400
Rebates cap at 50kWh
for systems up to 100kWh
Eligibility: Who Can Claim the Battery Discount?
To secure the federal battery discount, your installation must meet a few core criteria:
- Capacity:
The battery must have between 5 kWh and 100 kWh of usable storage capacity
(the rebate only applies to the first 50 kWh) - Approved Products:
The battery must be on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved list. SAE only installs premium, approved brands like Tesla, Sungrow, BYD, and GoodWe. - Accredited Installation:
The system must be installed by an SAA-accredited battery installer. As an SAA and Clean Energy Council approved retailer with over 18,000 installations, SAE Group guarantees full compliance. - VPP Capability:
The battery must be technically capable of connecting to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), though joining one is usually optional unless required by a specific state stackable rebate. - New or Upgraded Systems:
Applies to new batteries added to existing solar panels, completely new solar-and-battery packages, or capacity upgrades to existing batteries (provided you haven’t claimed this specific rebate before).
Are You Eligible?
If you own a home or small business with a solar system (or are planning to install one) and haven’t previously claimed the Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount at that address, you are almost certainly eligible.
During your free energy consultation, the team at SAE Group will assess your property, your current solar setup, and your energy usage to confirm your eligibility instantly.
How to Apply
Taking advantage of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program is entirely hassle-free when you work with us, by following this simple 3 step process:
- Get a Quote:
Reach out to the team at SAE Group for a tailored battery storage solution. - Review Your Discount:
We calculate your precise battery rebate based on the kWh capacity and apply it as a clear line-item discount on your quote. - Sign and Save:
- Accept the quote, and our SAA-accredited technicians will complete a compliant installation. You simply sign a form assigning the STCs to us, and we take care of the government paperwork!
Why Signing Up Sooner Maximises Your Savings
As of May 2026, the government has accelerated the phase-out of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Instead of reducing annually, the STC multiplier for batteries now drops every six months.
For example, a battery that secures a $252 per kWh discount between May and December 2026 will drop to approximately $211 per kWh on January 1, 2027, and drop again to $192 by July 2027.
Delaying a standard 14 kWh battery installation until 2027 could cost you roughly $570 in lost subsidies.
By locking in your battery installation with SAE Gru=oup today, you can secure the highest possible rebate rate before the next scheduled reduction, and you’ll be protected against grid outages and rising evening electricity rates straight away.