Prices by battery size
A kWh measures how much energy a battery can hold, so a 10 kWh unit stores double what a 5 kWh unit does. CHOICE publishes typical installed prices, and these prices already have the federal discount taken off.
- 10 kWh — roughly $7,000 to $11,000 installed, with a discount of about $2,720
- 15 kWh — roughly $11,000 to $15,000, with a discount of about $3,960
- 20 kWh — roughly $14,000 to $19,000, with a discount of about $4,760
- 30 kWh — roughly $18,000 to $22,000, with a discount of about $6,160
- 50 kWh — roughly $24,000 to $30,000, with a discount of about $6,960
Those figures assume installation before the end of 2026, with each certificate valued at $40.
Discount amounts by install date
Certificates are how the discount gets paid. Your installer earns a credit for your battery, sells it, and the money comes off what you pay. Every 6 months the certificates per kWh shrink, so waiting means a smaller discount for the same battery.
Here's what the discount looks like depending on when your battery goes in:
- 5 kWh: $1,360 by the end of 2026, $1,120 from January 2027, then $1,040 from July 2027
- 10 kWh: $2,720, then $2,280, then $2,080
- 13.5 kWh: $3,640, then $3,040, then $2,800
- 20 kWh: $4,760, then $4,000, then $3,640
- 30 kWh: $6,160, then $5,160, then $4,720
A certificate can be worth up to $40, though on the open market it has fetched roughly $37 to $40. That's why some installers pass on slightly less.
Who qualifies?
The Clean Energy Regulator sets these main conditions:
- The battery is put in on or after 1 July 2025 and linked to solar panels.
- It appears on the approved battery list and its size falls between 5 and 100 kWh.
- It is capable of joining a virtual power plant, meaning a network of home batteries an energy company can tap to support the grid.
- An accredited installer does the work.
- Just 1 battery per home qualifies, and only the first 50 kWh is counted.
Your battery needs to be able to join a virtual power plant, but actually joining one is optional.
Extra state rebates
Western Australia pays a state rebate on a 10 kWh battery of $1,300 through Synergy, or $3,800 through Horizon Power. Add the federal discount on top and you get a combined $4,020 or $6,520.
If you live in New South Wales, signing up with a virtual power plant can pay around $36 per kWh, capped at 28 kWh. That works out to roughly $360 on a 10 kWh battery, and the provider you join pays it.
How the numbers are calculated
You don't need to work this out yourself. The discount is based on your battery's listed size and the date it goes in. The first 14 kWh earn the full amount, and each kWh above that earns less. Your installer's quote will show the exact figure.
Common questions
What price can I expect for a 13.5 kWh battery once the rebate applies?
Most often $9,800 to $13,800 installed, including a $3,640 federal discount for installs completed by 31 December 2026. In Western Australia, adding the state rebate brings the combined amount to either $4,940 (Synergy) or $7,440 (Horizon Power).
When does the battery rebate finish?
It continues until 31 December 2030. During the final six months of 2030, the rate drops to just 2.1 certificates per kWh, meaning a much smaller discount than today's.
Do new solar panels also get a rebate?
They do, as panels generate credits of their own. A 6.6 kW setup in any of Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, or Adelaide is worth about $1,800 with a 2026 install, dropping to roughly $1,440 the following year.
Is a bigger battery better value?
Larger batteries tend to cost less per kWh. But the discount per kWh shrinks beyond 14 kWh, so going bigger saves you less than you might expect.