UPDATE: Labor has been re-elected. That means the cheaper home solar battery program starts now.
You can get a solar battery installation for 30% cheaper.
*The caveat here is that new solar battery installations intended to get the rebate cannot be switched on until July 1. It’s worth getting in early, as it has been with most rebates, because most likely you’ll want to get ahead of the queue.
How Much Queenslanders Can Save With Election Promise Solar Battery Rebate
The Labour Government has announced an election promise that really matters to anyone with a solar-conscious: a $2.3B ‘Cheaper Home Battery Program’ that will give a 30% upfront discount on solar battery installations, from July 1 2025 if re-elected. This rebate can be used for solar batteries installed now, as long as the battery meets the eligibility criteria and is not switched on until July 1, when rebate paybacks will start.
The solar battery rebate will be delivered through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
On top of helping Australians save on their electricity bills, it’s also helping us as a nation close the distance towards our net-zero goal.
What Does This Mean for You?
The scheme will cover 30% off the cost of the battery and installation.
According to the Labour Press Release, “one in three Australian households now have solar – but only one in forty households have a battery.”
Battery systems have traditionally been financially out of reach for many homeowners. This scheme makes it suddenly possibly (or financially viable) for many Australians to invest into solar battery storage.
For Existing Solar System Owners
If you’re a homeowner or small business owner, particularly with an existing solar system installed, this is particularly relevant now to you.
Solar feed-in tariffs have reduced dramatically. In plain English, this means a reduced amount you get back for selling excess electricity generated from your solar to the grid. Storing your solar generated power and using it during peak times of demand are now the most effective way to reduce your energy bills.
For New to Solar Households and Businesses
If you don’t currently have a solar system installed, this solar battery rebate also helps make a solar panel and battery system make more sense. You’re able to shave off more of the upfront cost to get access to a system that can efficiently pay itself off, and then continue to shave off excess costs from unpredictably volatile electricity bills.
How Much Can You Save?
Households will be able to save $4000 upfront on a typical solar battery (11.5kWh system), through a 30% discount on installation costs.
The new batteries through the scheme is expected to save existing solar rooftop households $1,100 a year off their power bill, and households new to solar $2,300 for the same.
This means an expected 90% reduction of a typical family energy bill for households that now adopt solar.
There’s a lot of ways homeowners will be able to utilise this scheme.
| Imagine this: You can get a powerful 13.8kWh BYD battery — normally valued at around $13,000 — for as little as $9,000 to $10,000 after available rebates. Paired with zero-deposit finance that we offer at Snap Solar, and you can install your battery system with no upfront payment. What is even better is that your monthly repayments for the battery will often be lower than your current energy bills, helping you save from day one. Already have solar? This scheme has made battery retrofits easier and more affordable than ever before. Plus, if you join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program and enjoy a payback period of just 5 to 7 years. [Get a Free Quote] |
Is the scheme limited to just households?
No. Despite the name, small businesses and community facilities will also be able to access the scheme. The eligibility criteria for them will have a limit of 5 – 50 kWh of batteries, sized up to 100 kWh.
How Much We’ve Already Helped Our Customers in Mackay and the Sunshine Coast Save
Mackay
- Erin (Rural View – 10.34kW + 13.8kWh battery) → Savings: $3,377 (97% off their energy bill)
- Brooke (Bakers Creek – 7.28kW + battery) → Savings: $3,023 (86% off their energy bill)
- Brett (Alligator Creek – 13.5kW + battery) → In credit by $390/year, total benefit: $5,239+
- Michael (Sarina – 13.5kW solar only) → Savings: $4,264 (59% off their energy bill)
Sunshine Coast
- Marco (Yandina Creek – 12.74kW solar only) → Savings: $3,204 (62% off their energy bill)
- Gorden (Chevallum – 13.16kW solar only) → Savings: $3,231 (57% off their energy bill)
As you can see, you get back so much more return to cover your power bills with solar battery storage. The initial extra cost for a battery has made it not a viable option for many families in the past, but it’s going to be more affordable—-with 30% off the cost to get a battery and have it set up.
This means you’ll be able to greatly cut down the future expenses of your energy bills and reduce your reliance on the grid. All while helping the nation’s shared goal of a cleaner planet.
This is of course, only in the case that the Labour Government wins the upcoming Federal election and keeps their promise.
Want to Understand How Much You Can Save?
Whenever you get a solar installation with Snap Solar, we present you with a proposal that will provide you in detail how much you can expect to save and a tailored estimate of how quickly your system will pay itself back.
The payback period for some of our most proposals we have sent in Mackay were 6-7 years for one customer, and 7-8 for another.
The estimated payback period in Queensland is expected to drop down to 5-7 years, especially with VPP participation. Accelerating the timeline in which your batteries start paying for more than themselves, significantly.
Book a Free Discussion on Your New Projected Savings →
Eligibility
Who Can Apply
- Homeowners or property owners with a new or existing solar system.
- Owners of multiple properties can install a battery system at each property.
- Owners of existing battery systems can install an additional battery and still qualify.
- Households connected to the grid or off-grid (Labor aims to include off-grid installations).
Battery System Requirements
- Usable capacity must be between 5kWh and 50kWh to be eligible for the subsidy.
- Systems up to 100kWh can be installed but only the eligible portion (up to 50kWh) receives the subsidy.
- Battery system must be VPP-capable (Virtual Power Plant).
Note: Participation in a VPP is not mandatory. - Must be Clean Energy Council approved.
- Must be installed by a CEC-accredited installer.
Subsidy Details
- Subsidy will be ~$372 per usable kilowatt-hour (theoretical maximum), minus admin fees.
- Subsidy value will decrease over time, as with the SRES.
- No cap on the number of subsidies available – it’s uncapped.
- The subsidy can be combined with existing state rebates (double dipping is allowed, though sadly no active state exclusive solar rebates exist for Queensland)
- The government will also be purchasing the renewable energy certificates (STCs) generated under the SRES to prevent upward pressure on power prices.
Related:
What Happens if I Get Solar Batteries Installed Before July 1?
If you’re getting a solar battery installed before the date the Cheaper Home Battery Program activates (July 1), there’s no need to worry. Batteries installed between now and the activation date will be eligible, Batteries installed between now and the activation date will still be eligible, and you will be able to apply for the subsidy to get money back.
You won’t be missing out by not waiting. Though Chris Bowen says, these batteries should not be switched on until then to make use of the subsidy..
However, if the 30% discount makes the difference between you getting off the fence and committing to a solar battery installation, it makes sense to wait till after the election. As it will only go through if Labour is re-elected.
What is a Virtual Power Plant, and what does VPP Participation mean?
A Virtual Power Plant (or VPP) is a cloud-based electricity network of connected home solar systems and batteries. When the grid experiences periods of high demand, an Energy Provider can use the VPP like a big back-up battery to inject the grid with much needed power. Homeowners who participate in a VPP are remunerated. The ‘how’ depends on the VPP program. This could be through a higher-than-average feed-in tariff (by each kilowatt per hour you send to the grid) or as a monthly fee. This may also take the form of an upfront payment, discount off a new battery install, or credit off your bill if your VPP program provider is also your energy supplier.
The Cheaper Home Battery Program requires you install batteries that are VPP-capable, however participating in a VPP is not mandatory to get the 30% discount.
See VPP offers available here.
The VPP options currently open to Queensland are AGL VPP, Batteries approved for VPP, Powershop ‘Charge Force’ VPP, Discover Energy VPP, and Powershop ‘Grid Impact’ VPP.
What if I Don’t Get Any Solar Installed?
Even if this isn’t enough to get you to think about installing anything solar, Labour predicts the program to make all Australians $1.3 billion better off in 2030 by reducing the wholesale value of electricity.
This is of course, through the emergence of the one million solar batteries expected to be delivered by this scheme by 2030.
Important Things to Remember
It’s critical to remember that the Cheaper Home Battery Program will only happen in the case of a Labour Government re-election.
The Coalition has not yet announced any plan that includes solar, instead the Coalition’s focus is on investing heavily into nuclear power. In the case that Dutton’s nuclear plan goes through, MP Chris Bowen rooftop PV systems will have to be “severely curtailed” to accommodate the power from a nuclear reactor, and Tesla supported this by saying that the main grid could not accommodate more than 2 gigawatts of baseload power. The Coalition’s own forecasting suggests that large scale wind and solar will slow exponentially, and have criticised openly Labour for their focus on renewables in their plan for Cheaper Energy press release.
No matter who you support this Federal Election, it means that cheaper batteries are not a certainty until after May 3 this year.
But if it does go through, give your friendly CEC-accredited solar installers at Snap Solar a ring if you’re interested in getting the most out of the scheme. We’ll always be happy to assist. It’s our mission to both help you save more and see more sustainable solutions properly installed for a cleaner planet.
[Get a FREE Quote on New Solar Batteries]
Want to start learning how much you can save through a solar battery discount? As well as how much it can reduce your bills in the long term?
Our solar experts will help you start your journey with everything you need to know.
FAQs
Why Are Solar Feed-in Tariffs Falling?
It’s a common question, and we totally understand the concern. The main reason feed-in tariffs are dropping is because solar has become so popular across Australia. During the middle of the day, there’s often more solar energy being exported to the grid than the grid actually needs. With supply outweighing demand, energy companies simply can’t pay high rates for that excess power.
But that doesn’t mean solar isn’t worthwhile anymore. It just means the way we use solar is evolving. By adding a solar battery, you can store your own energy and use it when it matters most, like in the evening or during peak pricing times.
Why Can’t High Feed-in Tariffs Continue Forever?
High feed-in tariffs were a fantastic way to encourage early solar adoption, but they were never designed to last forever. As solar uptake has grown, those incentives have become harder to maintain. If they continued at high rates, it could lead to higher energy prices for everyone, including households without solar.
That said, there’s a better solution. With a battery system, you can keep your solar savings high by using more of your own energy instead of sending it back to the grid. The new Cheaper Home Battery Program helps make that possible by reducing the cost of batteries and installation by 30 percent.
Solar Feed-in Tariffs vs VPP: What’s the Difference?
Feed-in tariffs are a basic reward for any solar energy you send back to the grid. A Virtual Power Plant, or VPP, is a smarter system that links your battery with other homes or businesses to form a network. This network helps support the grid during peak times, and in return, you can receive extra savings, performance-based rewards, or credits on your bill. VPPs also pay you more than what standard feed-in tariffs will.
To join a VPP, you need a solar battery, and that’s where the federal scheme will really make an impact. The subsidy will make batteries more accessible and cost-effective, whether or not you choose to join a VPP straight away. It also means you get so much more out of your solar too.
Can Business Owners Access the Cheaper Home Batteries Program Too?
Yes, they absolutely can!
Small businesses and community facilities are eligible to access the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, provided their battery system meets the required criteria. To qualify for the subsidy:
- The battery must have a usable capacity between 5kWh and 50kWh.
- Systems with total capacity up to 100kWh can be installed, but only the first 50kWh of usable capacity will be subsidised.
The battery must also be VPP-capable and connected to a new or existing solar system. All installations must use Clean Energy Council-approved equipment and be completed by a CEC-accredited installer.
Businesses with multiple sites can potentially install a system at each location, as long as each installation meets the eligibility requirements. It’s a valuable opportunity for small businesses to reduce operational energy costs, boost energy resilience, and invest in a smarter, more sustainable future.
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