Updated 3/07/2025
The Federal Governments Cheaper Home Batteries Program commenced 1 July 2025.
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.
The amended regulation have now come into effect allowing solar batteries to be eligible under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme from 1 July 2025:
- Scheme is regulated by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES)
- Scheme commenced 1 July 2025
- The subsidy is not means-tested
- The batteries need to have been approved by the Clean Energy Council (CEC)
- Installers must be accredited battery installers through Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA):
- Grid Connected battery systems - GCBS
- Stand Alone battery systems - SPS
- The minimum nominal 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.
- Grid Connect Batteries must be Virtual Power Plant (VPP) ready (but there’s no requirement to join a VPP).
- Off-Grid batteries are eligible as long as batteries on CEC approved list (No VPP ready requirement)
- 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 address.
- Batteries installed before 1 July cannot be wired or 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. Photos will need to include unwired then wired batteries at this time
- Batteries installed in 2025 will receive 9.3 STCs per kWh of usable capacity of battery installed rounded down to nearest whole number (eg 13.5kWh x 9.3 STCs = 125 STCs).
- As with STCs for solar the number of STCs for batteries will reduce each year through to 2030.
- 2025 = 9.3 STCs per kWh
- 2026 = 8.4 STCs per kWh
- 2027 = 7.4 STCs per kWh
- 2028 = 6.5 STCs per kWh
- 2029 = 5.6 STCs per kWh
- 2030 = 4.7 STCs per kWh
- The scheme can work back to back with state based schemes.
- However, in the case of the NSW PDRS scheme the NSW Government have decided to cease the claiming of PRCs from 01/07/2025 which means only the STCs can be claimed on the batteries.
- An installer is limited to the number of jobs they can do in a day. For more information please visit the following link
Adding to existing stackable (modular) battery systems - Only CEC approved batteries are eligible under the program. If the individual modules are approved by CEC then they qualify for BSTCs. If the module is not listed individually, BSTCs cannot be claimed under the current rules. (We all hope this rule will be changed soon to allow modules to added to existing stacks). Please check the CEC approved battery website before proceeding.
We are managing the Program through our FormBay portal. Jobs can now been created for PV & Battery installs and Battery only installs. Check your FormBay portal for the new job creation options.
For more informaion about the scheme you can view the Cheaper Home Batteries Webinar held 27/05/2025 by DCCEEW and the CER at the following links:
Link to DCCEEW intended eligibility criteria for the scheme can be found at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/cheaper-home-batteries/eligibility
The Clean Energy Regulator has set up a page outlining program information and agent compliance requirements. This can be found at https://cer.gov.au/batteries.
Whilst the current known information is detailed above please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
