4 June 2025

Making Solar Batteries More Affordable: Rebates and Loans You Should Know About

As more Australians embrace solar energy, the next big step is energy storage, and solar battery rebates are making that leap more affordable than ever. Across the country, state and federal governments are rolling out generous rebate and loan programs to help households invest in a solar battery for house use.

Here at KDEC, we’re seeing more and more homeowners in our community asking about batteries—and for good reason. A battery doesn’t just store your solar energy for later use. It can help lower your power bills, keep the lights on during blackouts, and give you more control over your household energy.

Let’s break down how these rebates work and how we can help you take advantage of them.

How Do Solar Battery Rebates Work?

So what exactly is a solar battery rebate? Essentially, it’s a government incentive designed to reduce the upfront cost of installing a solar battery system at home. These solar battery system rebates can come in the form of direct discounts or partial refunds. Depending on where you live, these programs may be offered as standalone incentives or as part of broader renewable energy schemes. Other programs offer loans instead of rebates.

These programs encourage more households to install a solar storage battery to help ease pressure on the grid, improve energy reliability and to move toward lowering our emissions.

Here are some of the Current Solar Battery Rebates & Loans in Australia

Here’s a quick overview of the solar battery programs currently available in New South Wales and Victoria.

NSW Government Home Battery Rebate

NSW’s solar battery rebate is part of the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, aiming to support homes in reducing their electricity consumption during peak times. Through this program, eligible homeowners can receive around $1,600 to $2,400 off the installation cost of a solar battery.

Incentives of around $250 to $400 are also available if you connect your battery to a Virtual Power Plant.

To qualify:

• Your home or business in NSW must have an existing rooftop solar energy system
• Your preferred battery should be within a nominal capacity of 2kWh to 28kWh
• Your battery must be installed by an approved supplier under the Accredited Certificate Provider

Victoria Solar Battery Loans

If you’re in Victoria, the state government offers an interest-free loan of up to $8,800 to help with your solar battery purchase and installation.

To be eligible:

• You are an owner-occupier of a property that has not yet benefited from a solar battery rebate
• Your combined household taxable income is below $210,000 a year
• You have an existing solar panel system with an inverter capacity equal to or greater than 5kW. If not, one must be installed along with the battery
• Your preferred solar battery storage system has a capacity of at least 6kWh

If you’re looking to take advantage of these rebate and loan programs for solar batteries, or if you would like to know more about the eligibility requirements, then make sure to reach out to us. Our professional and friendly KDEC solar specialists can provide you with all the information you need to enjoy the benefits of getting a solar power and battery system for your home.

Are Solar Batteries Worth It? The Answer Is in the Numbers

With rising power prices and growing concerns about energy security, more Australians are turning to solar batteries to take back control of their electricity bills. The numbers don’t lie, either. Since rebates were introduced, interest in battery storage has skyrocketed.

In fact, in NSW, over 7,800 solar batteries have been installed following the program’s launch in November 2024. More than half of these have taken place outside Sydney, and the rebate program has reached over 90% of all Local Government Areas in NSW.

The spike in solar battery and energy system installations can be attributed to the long-term savings these solutions can provide homes and businesses. For instance, a standard household with an $1,850 annual electricity bill can save around $1,500 per year by installing a complete solar energy package.

Of course, the savings amount still depends on certain factors, such as average energy usage, location of the house, and of course, the size of the solar battery.

How to Know What Solar Battery Size You Need

Choosing the right solar battery system can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry, we’re here to make it simple.

Let’s look at a real-life example of a home with a 5kW solar system and no battery. Their energy usage over 89 days looked like this:

Tariff Description	Usage kWh	Rate per kWh	Charges
Total Solar	457	-$0.05	-$22.85
Total Peak	318	$0.3795	$120.68
Total Shoulder	498	$0.3245	$161.60
Total Off Peak	880	$0.2248	$215.42
Service to Properly Charge	89 Days		$117.64
GST			$61.53

The Total Shoulder and Off Peak periods (late afternoon, night, and early morning) are when a battery would be most useful, storing excess solar energy from the day and using it later when the sun’s not out.

So, how do you estimate the right battery size?

Here’s a quick formula:

• Add Total Shoulder + Total Off Peak: 498 + 880 = 1,378 kWh
• Divide that by the number of days (89): 1,378 ÷ 89 = 15.48 kWh/day

To be safe, and to account for the fact that batteries don’t fully discharge (to protect their lifespan), we recommend choosing a battery with at least 10% extra capacity. With that in mind, our recommended battery size for the above example is a 17kWh solar battery.

Also, it’s important to keep in mind that if you’re running a similar system to the one described above, we may recommend installing an additional solar system. This real life example shows that the excess solar produced is not capable of fully charging a 17kWh solar battery each day.

But remember, every home is different. The best way to get it right is to talk to a KDEC expert who can look at your energy use and help you plan for the future. If you’re adding a battery, you may also need to upgrade your solar system to make sure it can charge your battery effectively. Thankfully, there are rebates for both.

Everyday Tips to Get the Most from Your Solar

Whether you already have solar or are planning to install a system soon, here are some easy ways to reduce your electricity bill:

• Run large appliances between 10:30am and 2:30pm (your peak solar hours)
• Use dishwashers, washing machines, dryers and EV chargers during solar hours or off-peak times
• Choose energy-efficient air conditioners and heaters. They may cost slightly more upfront, but can save hundreds over the long term
• Switch off unused appliances at the wall, since even standby power adds up over time

These small changes can lead to big savings, especially when combined with a well-sized solar battery for house use.

Plus, adding a solar battery to your system can help you avoid, or at least minimise, grid power usage during peak times, which are usually the period with the highest usage costs.

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program: What You Need to Know

Recently, the Federal Government announced the $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, aimed at making solar batteries more accessible for Australian households.

Below are quick details about the program:

Start Date: 1 July 2025
Goal: Support over 1 million solar battery installations by 2030
Savings: Reduce the cost of battery installs by up to 30%

Key takeaways:

1. You can install now
   You’re allowed to purchase and even begin installation before July 1 as long as you make sure your battery isn’t turned on (commissioned) until after the program starts to qualify for the rebate.

2. You’ll still be eligible
   As long as your battery is switched on after 1 July 2025, you’re eligible. The rebate applies even if most of the installation happens beforehand.

3. You won’t miss out
   The scheme is designed to keep things moving, so customers don’t need to delay orders. Installing now avoids supply chain delays and secures your place ahead of the rush.

4. Peace of mind with KDEC
   We’ll make sure your battery system meets all requirements and is installed safely and legally under local regulations, and commissioned at the right time to qualify for the rebate.

Why Choose KDEC?

At KDEC, we’ve been helping families across Albury-Wodonga and the surrounding regions transition to smart, sustainable solar solutions for over two decades.

Whether you’re looking to:

• Add a solar battery system
• Upgrade to a larger solar energy setup
• Maximise your return with a solar battery rebate
• Or prepare for the upcoming Cheaper Home Batteries Program

We’re here to help every step of the way.

We only install premium solar battery products from brands we trust, and we tailor every system to suit your home’s energy needs and lifestyle. Plus, we make navigating rebates simple and stress-free.

Don’t wait until July 2025 to start thinking about your energy future. Reach out to the local team at KDEC today and find out how we can help you save with the right solar panel battery setup designed just for your home.