Updated 07/05/2025
The Federal Governments Cheaper Home Batteries Program is expected to commence 1st July 2025. Whilst there is little detail about the scheme, here is what we know so far.
It will provide an up-front discount on the purchase and installation of home batteries. The incentive will be delivered through the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) – the same program that has successfully and safely been delivering solar subsidies since 2011. In addition to homes, small businesses and community facilities will also be able to access the subsidy, with support for up to 50 kWh of batteries sized up to 100 kWh eligible.
What we know so far, but please remember nothing official has yet been released regarding the detail of the scheme so below may change:
- Scheme will be regulated by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)
- Scheme commences 1 July 2025
- The subsidy is not means-tested
- The batteries will need to have been approved by the Clean Energy Council (CEC)
- Installers must be accredited battery installers through Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA).
- The minimum usable battery capacity is 5 kWh.
- The maximum usable capacity is 50 kWh – but you can install systems up to 100 kWh and still receive the rebate for a 50kWh system.
- Batteries must be Virtual Power Plant (VPP) ready (but there’s no requirement to join a VPP).
- Owners of existing battery systems can install another and be eligible for the rebate on the additional battery.
- System owners need to connect the battery to a new or existing solar system.
- One federal government battery STC claim per property.
- Batteries installed between now and 1 July cannot be turned on until 1 July and the Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) cannot be dated prior to 1 July. The installer will also need to return to site to switch the battery on, take the final selfie and photos and complete the CoC.
- Still to be confirmed but its expected approximately 9.3 STCs per kWh of usable capacity of battery installed.
- As with STCs for solar the number of STCs for batteries will reduce each year through to 2030.
- The scheme can work back to back with state based schemes. However, in the case of the NSW PDRS scheme this would require a rule change under the NSW scheme to allow this to occur.
We will be managing the Program through our FormBay portal. FormBay have put interim measures in place to allow jobs to be set up and managed as they are done with solar. For more information on the interim measures in FormBay please go to following link
Whilst the current known information is detailed above please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
