The federal battery discount worked at 10, 14 and 20 kWh
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program pays 6.8 certificates per usable kWh for batteries installed to 31 December 2026, at 100 per cent of that factor for the first 14 kWh, 60 per cent from 14 to 28 kWh and 15 per cent from 28 to 50 kWh, rounded down to whole certificates. At $39 per certificate a 10 kWh battery earns 68 certificates, $2,652; 14 kWh earns 95, $3,705; 20 kWh earns 119, $4,641. From 1 January 2027 the factor falls to 5.7, so the same three batteries earn $2,223, $3,081 and $3,900: a battery installed in December instead of January keeps $429 on 10 kWh and $624 on 14 kWh. The battery must be new, on the approved battery list, installed by an accredited installer with a battery endorsement and connected to a VPP-capable inverter. One battery per premises; no income test.
| Usable capacity | Eligible kWh | STCs to 31 Dec 2026 | Discount to 31 Dec 2026 | STCs from 1 Jan 2027 | Discount from 1 Jan 2027 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | 10 kWh | 68 | $2,652 | 57 | $2,223 | $429 |
| 13.5 kWh | 13.5 kWh | 91 | $3,549 | 76 | $2,964 | $585 |
| 14 kWh | 14 kWh | 95 | $3,705 | 79 | $3,081 | $624 |
| 20 kWh | 17.6 kWh | 119 | $4,641 | 100 | $3,900 | $741 |
| 28 kWh | 22.4 kWh | 152 | $5,928 | 127 | $4,953 | $975 |
The 14 kWh cliff
Each of the first 14 usable kWh earns 6.8 certificates, $265 at $39. The 15th kWh earns 4.08 certificates, $159. The 29th earns 1.02, $40. So going from 10 kWh to 14 kWh adds $1,053 of discount for 4 kWh, and going from 14 kWh to 20 kWh adds $936 for 6 kWh. The discount does not stop at 14 kWh, but it slows to 60 per cent, which is why so many packages are built around 13.5 to 16 kWh batteries: the 13.5 kWh unit earns $3,549, the 16 kWh unit $4,017. On a typical 10 kWh installed price of $9,500 to $12,500, the $2,652 discount is 21 to 28 per cent of the price.
Bundle prices by size
A package price is the solar system plus the installed battery, less two discounts: the solar STCs, which the index prices already deduct, and the battery certificates, deducted below. The solar part is the national standard or premium 6.6 kW or 10 kW offer in the October 2026 index. The battery part is the installed price before the federal discount. The 6.6 kW standard system with a typical 10 kWh battery is $16,274 to $19,274 before the battery discount and $13,622 to $16,622 after it; with the premium solar offer, $14,932 to $17,932. A 16 kWh battery of the GoodWe Lynx class is priced below the typical 10 kWh unit, so that bundle comes to $10,757 to $13,257 after its $4,017 discount.
| Solar | Battery | Battery installed, before discount | Bundle before battery discount | Battery discount | Bundle after discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW standard | 10 kWh, typical | $9,500 to $12,500 | $16,274 to $19,274 | 68 STCs, $2,652 | $13,622 to $16,622 |
| 6.6 kW premium | 10 kWh, typical | $9,500 to $12,500 | $17,584 to $20,584 | 68 STCs, $2,652 | $14,932 to $17,932 |
| 6.6 kW standard | 13.5 kWh, typical | $12,000 to $15,000 | $18,774 to $21,774 | 91 STCs, $3,549 | $15,225 to $18,225 |
| 6.6 kW premium | 13.5 kWh, typical | $12,000 to $15,000 | $20,084 to $23,084 | 91 STCs, $3,549 | $16,535 to $19,535 |
| 6.6 kW standard | 16 kWh (GoodWe Lynx class) | $8,000 to $10,500 | $14,774 to $17,274 | 103 STCs, $4,017 | $10,757 to $13,257 |
| 6.6 kW premium | 16 kWh (GoodWe Lynx class) | $8,000 to $10,500 | $16,084 to $18,584 | 103 STCs, $4,017 | $12,067 to $14,567 |
| 6.6 kW standard | 5 kWh (Enphase IQ 5P class) | $9,000 to $11,000 | $15,774 to $17,774 | 34 STCs, $1,326 | $14,448 to $16,448 |
| 6.6 kW premium | 5 kWh (Enphase IQ 5P class) | $9,000 to $11,000 | $17,084 to $19,084 | 34 STCs, $1,326 | $15,758 to $17,758 |
| 10 kW standard | 13.5 kWh, typical | $12,000 to $15,000 | $21,810 to $24,810 | 91 STCs, $3,549 | $18,261 to $21,261 |
| 10 kW premium | 13.5 kWh, typical | $12,000 to $15,000 | $23,700 to $26,700 | 91 STCs, $3,549 | $20,151 to $23,151 |
Add-ons for the house (two storeys, tile, switchboard) apply on top, as they do for solar alone; the price drivers page has the ranges. A battery retrofitted to an existing string inverter needs a second inverter or a hybrid replacement, which these bundles do not include; we have no sourced figure for that premium.
6.6 kW plus 10 kWh in each capital
The solar part moves with the city index and the battery part does not, so the capital-city bundles sit $4,956 apart from Perth to Darwin. Perth is also the only capital with an open state battery rebate, which takes its bundle to $10,842 to $13,842. Sydney is $13,018 to $16,018 after the federal discount, with whatever the VPP provider pays on top.
| City | 6.6 kW solar, standard | Bundle before battery discount | Battery discount | Bundle after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perth | $5,294 | $14,794 to $17,794 | $2,652 | $12,142 to $15,142; less WA rebate $1,300 (Synergy): $10,842 to $13,842 |
| Adelaide | $5,812 | $15,312 to $18,312 | $2,652 | $12,660 to $15,660 |
| Canberra | $6,144 | $15,644 to $18,644 | $2,652 | $12,992 to $15,992 |
| Sydney | $6,170 | $15,670 to $18,670 | $2,652 | $13,018 to $16,018 |
| Melbourne | $6,218 | $15,718 to $18,718 | $2,652 | $13,066 to $16,066 |
| Brisbane | $6,756 | $16,256 to $19,256 | $2,652 | $13,604 to $16,604 |
| Hobart | $7,544 | $17,044 to $20,044 | $2,652 | $14,392 to $17,392 |
| Darwin | $10,250 | $19,750 to $22,750 | $2,652 | $17,098 to $20,098 |
Dollars per usable kWh
Divide the installed price by the usable capacity to compare batteries of different sizes. Before the federal discount the installed prices in our table run from $500 to $656 per usable kWh for the 16 kWh GoodWe Lynx to $1,800 to $2,200 for the 5 kWh Enphase IQ 5P; the Powerwall 3 is $889 to $1,111. After the discount the 16 kWh unit falls to $249 to $405 per kWh. Small batteries cost the most per kWh because the inverter, the installation day and the switchboard work do not shrink with the battery.
| Battery | Usable kWh | Installed, before discount | $ per kWh, before | Federal discount | $ per kWh, after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | 13.5 | $12,000 to $15,000 | $889 to $1,111 | 91 STCs, $3,549 | $626 to $848 |
| Sungrow SBR | 9.6 | $8,500 to $11,000 | $885 to $1,146 | 65 STCs, $2,535 | $621 to $882 |
| BYD HVM | 10.2 | $8,500 to $11,000 | $833 to $1,078 | 69 STCs, $2,691 | $570 to $815 |
| GoodWe Lynx | 16 | $8,000 to $10,500 | $500 to $656 | 103 STCs, $4,017 | $249 to $405 |
| AlphaESS Smile | 10.1 | $8,000 to $10,500 | $792 to $1,040 | 68 STCs, $2,652 | $530 to $777 |
| SolarEdge Home | 9.7 | $9,500 to $12,500 | $979 to $1,289 | 65 STCs, $2,535 | $718 to $1,027 |
| Enphase IQ 5P | 5 | $9,000 to $11,000 | $1,800 to $2,200 | 34 STCs, $1,326 | $1,535 to $1,935 |
Installed prices are ranges from retailer and installer offers in October 2026, not quotes we have collected; once ten checked battery quotes exist for a model we will print the median and the count.
State schemes you can stack
Every state scheme below was read on its government page on 27 October 2026. Two states add money to the federal discount, two lend it, and the rest have closed. Worked for Perth: the standard 6.6 kW offer of $5,294 plus a 10 kWh battery at $9,500 to $12,500, less the federal $2,652, less the Synergy-area rebate of $1,300, is $10,842 to $13,842; a Horizon Power customer takes off $3,800 instead. The WA rebate needs at least 10 kWh usable to reach its maximum, so a smaller battery earns less than the figures shown.
| State | Scheme | Status | Amount and conditions | VPP required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WA | Residential Battery Scheme rebate | Open | Up to $1,300 (Synergy) or $3,800 (Horizon Power), maximum reached at 10 kWh usable | Yes: you must commit to a VPP product from your retailer |
| WA | Residential Battery Scheme loan | Open | Up to $10,000, no interest, up to 10 years, household income under $210,000 | Same battery as above |
| NSW | Peak Demand Reduction Scheme VPP connection incentive | Open | Dollar value set by each VPP provider; the government publishes no figure; batteries above 2 kWh and up to 50 kWh; once per NMI | Yes: the payment is for connecting to a VPP |
| NSW | Home Energy Saver loan | Open | Zero-interest loan of $2,000 to $15,000 over up to 10 years, income up to $210,000 | No |
| NSW | Battery installation discount (BESS1) | Closed | Suspended 1 July 2025; households use the federal discount | |
| VIC | Solar Homes battery interest-free loan | Closed | No longer taking applications; the $1,400 Solar Homes rebate still applies to the solar part of a package for eligible owner-occupiers | |
| ACT | Sustainable Household Scheme loan | Open | $2,000 to $20,000 at 3 per cent over up to 10 years; covers batteries, not panels | No |
| QLD | Battery Booster | Closed | Closed to new applications 8 May 2024; no new round | |
| SA | Home Battery Scheme | Closed | No longer offered; no open state battery rebate or loan | |
| TAS | Energy Saver Loan Scheme | Closed | Closed 1 September 2025 when funding ran out | |
| NT | Home and Business Battery Scheme | Closed | Was $400 per kWh up to $12,000; closed to new grants June 2025 |
In Victoria the battery loan has closed, but the Solar Homes rebate of up to $1,400 still comes off the solar part of a package for an eligible owner-occupier, so a Melbourne 6.6 kW plus 10 kWh bundle is $11,666 to $14,666 for a household that qualifies. The state pages have the eligibility detail: WA, NSW, Victoria.
The VPP question
A virtual power plant is a contract that lets an operator, usually your electricity retailer, charge and discharge your battery at times it chooses, in return for an upfront payment, a bill credit or a better tariff. Three rules sit around it. The federal discount requires the inverter the battery connects to be VPP-capable; it does not require you to join one. The WA rebate does require it: you must commit to a VPP product from your retailer to receive the $1,300 or $3,800. New South Wales pays an incentive for connecting a battery above 2 kWh to a VPP, once per NMI, and leaves the dollar value to each provider, so the figure on your quote is the provider's offer and not a government rate. Before signing, read how many cycles a year the operator may call, what floor it leaves in the battery, how the payment is made and how you leave. A VPP that drains the battery before the evening peak costs you the 30.0 cents per kWh gap between the New South Wales grid rate and feed-in for every kWh it exports.
Lifetime cents per kWh: the solar part only
The solar part of a bundle can be priced per kWh. A 6.6 kW system in Sydney makes about 221,388 kWh over 25 years at 1,424 kWh per kW a year with 0.5 per cent annual degradation, so the standard offer costs 3.1 cents per kWh and the premium offer 3.7 cents, against a grid rate of 34 cents in New South Wales. A battery kWh does not belong in that column. A battery generates nothing; it moves kWh the panels already made from midday to the evening, loses a share of each in the round trip, and is limited by how many cycles it can run before its warranty throughput is used up. Its value per kWh is the gap between what you would have paid the grid and what the export would have earned, 34 cents against 4 cents in New South Wales, multiplied by the kWh it actually shifts. A cost per kWh cycled would need the warranted throughput of each model, which our data does not yet carry, so we do not print one.
What a solar and battery quote must show
Six battery lines on top of the solar lines: the battery model and its usable kWh (not nominal); the model on the Clean Energy Council approved battery list; the battery STC line with the certificate count (68 for 10 kWh, 91 for 13.5 kWh, 95 for 14 kWh) and the price per certificate; whether the inverter is VPP-capable and whether it is a hybrid or a separate battery inverter; which circuits run in a blackout, if any; and the accreditation number of an installer with a battery endorsement. The solar lines are on the quote breakdown page, the solar index on the cost pillar, and the quote check tests the solar price and STC line for your city.
Solar and battery cost questions
How much does a 6.6 kW solar and battery system cost?
$13,622 to $16,622 with a typical 10 kWh battery in October 2026: the $6,774 national standard offer plus $9,500 to $12,500 installed, less the $2,652 federal discount. With a 13.5 kWh battery it is $15,225 to $18,225; with the premium solar offer and 10 kWh, $14,932 to $17,932.
How much is the federal battery rebate on 10 kWh?
$2,652 for a battery installed by 31 December 2026: 10 kWh x 6.8 = 68 certificates at $39. From 1 January 2027 the factor drops to 5.7 and the same battery earns $2,223.
Is a battery over 14 kWh worth it under the rebate?
$936 more discount is all a 20 kWh battery earns over a 14 kWh one, because kWh above 14 are counted at 60 per cent: 14 kWh earns $3,705 and 20 kWh earns $4,641. The extra capacity still works; it is just discounted at $159 per kWh instead of $265.
What state battery rebates can I add to the federal discount?
2 states pay money on top in October 2026: Western Australia (up to $1,300 for Synergy customers or $3,800 for Horizon Power customers, VPP required) and New South Wales (a VPP connection incentive whose value is set by the provider). New South Wales, Western Australia and the ACT also lend. Victoria's battery loan, and the Queensland, South Australian, Tasmanian and Northern Territory schemes, are closed.
Do I have to join a VPP to get the battery rebate?
0 VPP enrolment is required for the federal discount; the inverter must be VPP-capable. The WA rebate of $1,300 or $3,800 does require you to commit to a VPP product, and the NSW incentive is paid only for connecting to one.
How much does a solar and battery package cost in Perth?
$10,842 to $13,842 for the standard 6.6 kW offer of $5,294 plus a typical 10 kWh battery, after the $2,652 federal discount and the $1,300 Synergy-area rebate; $12,142 to $15,142 before the state rebate. Horizon Power customers take off $3,800 instead.