The short answer
NSW's own battery installation discount is no longer available, and a battery could not claim both it and the federal discount. What a NSW household can get now:
- The federal discount: around 30% off a 5 kWh to 100 kWh battery - up to $2,720 on a 10 kWh battery installed between May and December 2026.
- The NSW virtual power plant (VPP) payment: an upfront payment for connecting a battery of more than 2 kWh up to 50 kWh to a VPP, on top of the federal discount.
- A zero-interest Home Energy Saver loan of up to $15,000 over up to 10 years, for homeowners and landlords with a combined household income of up to $210,000.
Battery rebate calculator
Type the usable capacity on the battery's spec sheet. The federal certificates use the factor for the install date and the 14 kWh, 28 kWh and 50 kWh steps; the WA rebate is paid per kWh up to 10 kWh.
Up to $2,720 off
- Usable capacity
- 10 kWh
- Certificates (STCs) at the May to December 2026 factor of 6.8
- 68
- Federal discount at $40 a certificate
- up to $2,720
- NSW virtual power plant payment
- Set by your VPP provider
- Installed price in our solar cost guide, Battery 10–13 kWh (mid-range)
- $8,000 to $15,000
Enter the price on your quote to see what you would pay. Ask the installer to show the number of certificates and the price per certificate on the quote.
The NSW payment is set by your virtual power plant provider and contract, so it is not added here. Prices are the installed bands from our solar cost guide.
The NSW virtual power plant payment
The payment depends on how much of the battery's capacity you make available to the grid, counted up to 28 kWh, and the amount varies by VPP provider and contract. Compare the VPP offers as well as the battery quotes.
It is paid on top of the federal discount, for households and small businesses with a battery of more than 2 kWh up to 50 kWh. The NSW Government's earlier installation discount, which could not be combined with the federal one, has ended.
Home Energy Saver loans and discounts
OpenNSW homeowners and landlords with a combined household income of up to $210,000 can borrow up to $15,000 interest-free for a home battery, repaid over up to 10 years. The same loan can pay for rooftop solar, a heat pump or solar hot water system, or a reverse cycle air conditioner.
ComingHome Energy Saver discounts of up to $4,000, for homeowners and renters with a household income of up to $80,000 or an eligible concession card, have been announced but are not open yet.
Batteries for apartment buildings
OpenFrom 1 September 2026, NSW apartment buildings with at least 4 units can get an upfront discount of about 30 to 40 per cent on a battery installed with new solar, or about 20 to 30 per cent on a battery on its own.
How much the federal discount is worth in NSW
The discount comes as small-scale technology certificates (STCs). Each kWh of usable capacity earns certificates at the STC factor for the day the battery is installed - 6.8 for May to December 2026. Since 1 May 2026 the full factor applies to the first 14 kWh, 60% of it to each kWh from 14 to 28 kWh, and 15% of it to each kWh from 28 to 50 kWh. No certificates are created for capacity above 50 kWh.
| Usable capacity | Certificates, May to Dec 2026 | Discount at $40 | Certificates, Jan to Jun 2027 | Discount at $40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kWh | 34 | $1,360 | 28 | $1,120 |
| 10 kWh | 68 | $2,720 | 57 | $2,280 |
| 13.5 kWh | 91 | $3,640 | 76 | $3,040 |
| 20 kWh | 119 | $4,760 | 100 | $4,000 |
| 30 kWh | 154 | $6,160 | 129 | $5,160 |
| 50 kWh | 174 | $6,960 | 146 | $5,840 |
The government buys these certificates through the STC Clearing House at a fixed $40 each, excluding GST. The discount your installer gives is based on the certificates the battery creates, so ask for the number of certificates and the price per certificate on the quote.
Who can get the federal battery discount
- The battery is connected to a new or existing solar PV system. A battery that only stores energy from the grid is not eligible.
- It is on the Clean Energy Council approved battery list and is installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia accredited installer with battery endorsement.
- The battery and its inverter are able to join a virtual power plant. You do not have to join one.
- It is the first battery at the premises to claim. A battery added later at the same premises cannot claim again.
- It was installed on or after 1 July 2025 and has a capacity of 5 kWh to 100 kWh.
- Households, businesses and community organisations can all claim it.
You do not apply to the government. The accredited installer or retailer takes the discount off the price, or pays it to you as a rebate after installation. You can instead create and sell the certificates yourself through the REC Registry.
What a home battery costs
Installed prices from our solar cost guide:
- Battery 5 kWh (e.g. Sungrow): $5,000 to $9,000
- Battery 10–13 kWh (mid-range): $8,000 to $15,000
- Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh): $12,000 to $17,000
Ask every installer whether their price is before or after the federal discount, so you compare like with like.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a battery rebate in NSW?
Yes, but not the old one. NSW's own installation discount has ended. NSW households now get the federal discount of around 30%, plus the NSW virtual power plant payment if the battery joins a VPP.
How much is the NSW VPP incentive?
It depends on how much battery capacity you make available to the grid, counted up to 28 kWh, and it varies by VPP provider and contract, so ask each provider what they will pay.
Can I get the NSW and federal battery rebates together?
You can add the NSW virtual power plant payment to the federal discount. The earlier NSW installation discount could not be combined with the federal one, and it has now ended.
Can I get an interest-free loan for a battery in NSW?
Yes. Homeowners and landlords with a combined household income of up to $210,000 can get a zero-interest Home Energy Saver loan of up to $15,000, repaid over up to 10 years.
How much is the federal battery rebate on a 10 kWh battery in NSW?
Up to $2,720 (68 certificates at $40) for a battery installed between May and December 2026.
Do I need solar panels to get the battery rebate?
Yes, for the federal discount. The battery has to be connected to a new or existing solar PV system; a battery that only stores energy from the grid is not eligible.
Compare quotes from local battery installers, and ask each one how many certificates the battery creates and what they pay per certificate.
Get battery quotes →Sources
Rebate rules, amounts and dates change, and every program has its own eligibility rules - confirm with the program below before you sign a quote. Checked against these pages in October 2026:
- Small-scale technology certificates (STCs) for batteries - DCCEEW (dcceew.gov.au) · www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/cheaper-home-batteries/small-scale-technology-
- Solar batteries | Clean Energy Regulator (cer.gov.au) · cer.gov.au/schemes/renewable-energy-target/small-scale-renewable-energy-scheme/s
- Cheaper Home Batteries Program - DCCEEW (dcceew.gov.au) · www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/cheaper-home-batteries
- Eligibility information for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program - DCCEEW (dcceew.gov.au) · www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/programs/cheaper-home-batteries/eligibility-information
- Batteries for apartment buildings incentive | NSW Climate and Energy Action (energy.nsw.gov.au) · www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/household-energy-saving-upgrades
- Install a battery | NSW Climate and Energy Action (energy.nsw.gov.au) · www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/household-energy-saving-upgrades
- Home Energy Saver | NSW Climate and Energy Action (energy.nsw.gov.au) · www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/home-energy-saver
- energy.nsw.gov.au (energy.nsw.gov.au) · www.energy.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-08/Home-Energy-Saver-Loans-guidel
- Virtual power plant (VPP) incentive | NSW Climate and Energy Action (energy.nsw.gov.au) · www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/grants-rebates/household-energy-saving-upgrades
- WA Residential Battery Scheme - Eligibility Requirements (wa.gov.au) · www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/wa-residential-battery-scheme-eligib
- WA Residential Battery Scheme (wa.gov.au) · www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/wa-residential-battery-scheme
Related guides
- Solar battery rebate: what you get in 2026
- Solar battery rebate in Queensland
- Solar battery rebate in WA
- Solar battery rebate in Victoria
- Solar battery rebate in South Australia
- Solar panel rebates in 2026: federal and state
- Solar Calculator: STCs, Output, Cost and Payback
- Solar + Battery vs Solar Only: 2026 Cost Comparison (with Rebates)
- Solar & Battery Cost Australia 2026