Solar Battery Rebates in NSW

Solar batteries are becoming a game-changer for NSW households, and generous rebates are making them more affordable than ever. Here is the summary on available and proposed battery rebates, and how to make the most of them.

How many solar battery rebates are there available in NSW?

For NSW residents there is one existing battery rebate backed up by the NSW government, plus a second rebate promised by Labor Party if elected on 3/5/2025.

Let’s break them down:

1 – NSW Government Battery Rebate

NSW Government Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) is an initiative program used to lower the peak electricity demand. NSW PDRS home battery program started on 1/11/2024

How it works?

• When a battery is installed, it generates PDRS credits based on its capacity (kWh)
• These credits can be offered to customers as a point-of-sale discount to offset the price of the battery
• The current value of each PDRS unit is approximately $1.80 (subject to market fluctuations)
• For example, a premium battery like the Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) can generates over $2,000 in rebates through this program

You can test how much you can save in NSW Government Battery Rebate using our calculator.

2 – Proposed Federal Government Battery Rebate

Proposed Federal battery rebate starting 1/7/2025 (should Labor win on 3/5/2025)

The Labor Party has announced a very generous new battery rebate for the cost of $2.3 billion. This rebate programme to be modelled on the highly successful Small-Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (STCs) that has governed solar panel incentives across Australia since 2011.

Key details:

• Expected to begin 1 July 2025 and run until 2030
• Rebate value: about $370 per kWh
• Example: a Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5kWh) = approx. $4,995 in rebate
  The rebate amount quoted is approximate and will be confirmed once full policy details, regulatory guidelines, and any applicable registration fees are officially released.

Qualification criteria and conditions apply for both rebates programmes.

You can test how much you can save in Federal Government Battery Rebate using our calculator.

Total value of solar battery rebates!

If the promised rebate comes to fruition, residents in NSW will be able to access over $7,000 in battery rebates covering over 50% of the cost of a premium battery like Tesla and making solar battery installation more affordable than ever.

Is it worth installing solar battery?

Simple answer: Yes, more than ever.

While solar battery has always offered benefits like energy independence and back up power, the financial case for installing one was difficult till recently.

That has changed in the last couple of years where batteries becoming significantly more attractive to homeowners and businesses due to:

• Drop in the costs of solar and batteries in general
• Rise in cost of energy
• Declining feed-in tariff rates

NSW rebates kicking in November 2024 further boosted the demand for batteries. We have witnessed a surge in the installation of batteries across NSW.

How To Qualify for the Solar Battery Rebate

To qualify for the NSW and proposed Federal government rebates, specific conditions must be met. The table below outlines the eligibility criteria for each program:

NSW  Solar Battery Rebate Eligibility Criteria:

• Existing solar panels installed, or a new system with solar panels and a battery (solar must be grid-connected before battery installation).
• Installation by an accredited Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) installer.
• Properties with an existing battery are ineligible for a new battery rebate at the same address.
• For VPP rebate, the battery must have a minimum 6-year warranty.
• Only one state rebate can be claimed per property’s electricity meter (NMI).

Federal Government Solar Battery Rebate Eligibility Criteria:

• Existing solar panels installed, or a new system with solar panels and a battery (solar must be grid-connected before battery installation).
• Installation by an accredited Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) installer.
• The battery system must have a valid Certificate of Compliance (CoC) signed on or after 1^st July 2025.
• Battery must meet federal scheme requirements (to be confirmed upon policy release).
• Only one federal rebate can be claimed per property’s electricity meter (NMI).

What Solar Batteries Qualify for the Rebate?

Batteries eligible for the NSW and proposed Federal rebates must meet specific technical requirements. The table below details the specifications for each program:

Solar Batteries Qualification Criteria for NSW  Solar Battery Rebate:

• Storage size between 2 and 28 kWh.
• 10-year product warranty.
• Operates in a temperature range of -10 to 50°C.
• Usable capacity of at least 70% after 10 years.
• Battery management system and internet connection for control, monitoring, and VPP compatibility.
• Must be listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved product list.

Solar Batteries Qualification Criteria for Federal  Solar Battery Rebate:

• Storage size between 5 and 50 kWh.
• 10-year product warranty.
• Battery management system and internet connection for control, monitoring, and VPP compatibility.
• Must be listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved product list.

How to purchase Solar and battery package?

To make the most of your investment and ensure eligibility for rebates, choose a reputable, accredited solar retailer.

Here are some important things to look out for when purchasing your solar and battery packages:

• Avoid too good to be true deals, too cheap deals normally come with other regrettable costs
• Avoid retailers with no physical presence, an office with showrooms that open during standard business hours (9am-5pm) is a good sign of legitimate customer focused business.
• Avoid retailers that refuse to do site assessment and consultation, if they don’t want to come before the sale, don’t expect them to come and fix any problem after they have taken your money.
• Avoid retailers that don’t have a proven history of quality customer service, be aware of business that seem to have thousands of fake 5-star reviews

Conclusion

Investing in solar batteries is already an attractive investment for residents of NSW.

If the Labor rebate is introduced in July 2025, installing a solar battery could become a “no-brainer” investment for households seeking energy independence.

For more information, contact a reputable solar retailer like SolarBright today to explore your options and secure these game-changing rebates.