Are you a homeowner in New South Wales looking to save on energy costs? The new battery rebate program might be just what you need.
The NSW government has introduced this initiative to help residents afford solar battery systems. This is awesome because the upfront cost of adding a solar battery to your system is substantial, but it’s difficult to reduce your energy bills to nothing without one.
Offering an incentive for solar batteries is something everyone (from manufacturers to installers to customers) has wanted for some time.
At Penrith Solar Centre, we’ve seen a few things come and go in the solar industry. With years of experience in renewable energy, our team will guide you through these requirements.
In this article, you will learn:
- What is the Home Battery Rebate for NSW?
- Are You Eligible for the Government Solar Battery Rebate in NSW?
- What are the Battery Equipment Requirements?
- What Are the VPP Rebate Requirements?
- How to Apply for the Home Battery Rebate NSW
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND: this is merely an announcement. We’ve delayed writing about it because nothing is set in stone and a lot of work is happening to iron out details. Solar industry consultants and the government are working things out between now and November.
Let’s dive into what we do know.
What is the Home Battery Rebate for NSW?
The new Home Battery Rebate for NSW is a financial incentive from the government to encourage folks to purchase solar batteries. We need to adopt renewables and move away from burning fossil fuels, and this rebate scheme is encouraging everyone to do so.
The incentive will be available on 1 November 2024. It’s currently called the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme Amendment, but surely that will be rebranded for the ease of, well, everyone.
If you are eligible, you could save as much as:
- Between $1,600 – $2,400 off the upfront cost of a solar battery, but you must have solar already installed. The size of the battery is expected to be the factor that determines your rebate amount, but that is still being worked out.
- Between $250 – $400 rebate is available for connecting your battery to a virtual power plant (VPP). Battery owners can receive this rebate twice in their battery’s lifespan with a minimum of 3 years between applications. There must be at least 6 years remaining on the battery’s warranty.
If you don’t have solar already installed: the incentive can be priced into the quote from a certified installer. Much like the rebate for solar (STC scheme), the discount is applied immediately off the upfront cost by your installer.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about solar batteries, you might want to start with the following article titled, Adding a Battery to a Solar System.
Ready to go solar? Let’s get started
Are You Eligible for the Government Solar Battery Rebate in NSW?
We don’t want to promise you the world here as the details are still being hammered out.
Here’s what we know:
- Have or purchasing rooftop solar.
- New battery purchase for battery rebate.
- 6 years of warranty on existing batteries for VPP incentive.
- Use a certified installer.
- Meet the requirements for eligible batteries.
In NSW, eligible systems and installers must be approved under the program. We expect that the installers must be SAA/CEC certified installers. The battery must also meet certain safety standards.
If you’re interested in learning about types of solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, AC-coupled Battery vs. DC-coupled Solar Batteries.
What are the Battery Equipment Requirements?
- The equipment must be on the approved product list. This list isn’t available yet. Hopefully, it soon will be.
- It must have a usable storage capacity between 2 kWh and 28 kWh, as recorded on the approved list.
- The equipment must be internet-connectable and controllable so you can program your system.
- It must have a 10-year warranty guaranteeing at least 70% usable capacity retention after 10 years.
- The warranty must define normal use conditions, including:
- A minimum ambient temperature range of -10°C to 50°C.
- A minimum warranted throughput of 3.65 MWh per kWh of usable battery capacity.
If you’re interested in comparing the two leading residential solar batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, Enphase IQ Battery 5P vs Tesla Powerwall 2: Which is Right for You?
The information about the rebate is on pages 30 – 31:
What Are the VPP Rebate Requirements?
- The equipment must be on the approved product list.
- It must have a usable battery capacity between 2 kWh and 28 kWh.
- The equipment must have at least 6 years remaining on its warranty.
- The warranty must specify normal use conditions, including:
- A minimum ambient temperature range of -10°C to 50°C.
- A minimum warranted throughput of 3.65 MWh per kWh of usable battery capacity.
- Participation in the activity must not void or reduce the warranty below a guarantee of at least 70% usable capacity retention after 10 years from the installation date.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about VPPs, you might want to check out the following article titled, What is a Virtual Power Plant (VPP)?
How to Apply for the Home Battery Rebate NSW
Applying for battery rebates is usually straightforward:
Research: Find out what rebates are available in your area. Check the NSW Government’s Energy Saver website for details.
Get Quotes: Contact certified installers for quotes. Make sure they are approved by the rebate program.
Install Your System with a Battery: Proceed with installation by a certified installer.
We Take Over: Much like the STC scheme (solar rebate), your certified installer takes the rebate off the cost of the system upfront and organises reimbursement after you’re all taken care of.
If you’re interested in learning about the rebate for solar, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Does the Solar Rebate Work?
Home Battery Rebate: Battery Late Than Never
Now you have some general points about the upcoming solar battery rebate in New South Wales. There will be eligibility requirements for individuals and equipment, but this is sensational news for solar in NSW.
Please keep in mind, that solar component manufacturers may game this system a bit, as big companies are prone to do. Prices for batteries may go up on November 1st.
If you see a good deal on a solar battery, it might be worth pulling the trigger on the purchase now rather than wait.
And as we said, a lot of the details around the rebate are still being ironed out.
At Penrith Solar Centre, we’re here to help you through the big choices as you embrace a renewable lifestyle and take control of your energy. A solar battery makes getting your energy bills to zero a reality.
If you’re interested in learning how you can turn your solar battery into a source of passive income, you might want to check out the following article titled, Variable Feed-in Rates and VPPs in NSW.
