Am I eligible for the federal CHBP rebate?

To be eligible your battery must have at least 5 kWh of nominal capacity, be on the Clean Energy Council's approved battery product list, be capable of connecting to a Virtual Power Plant (though VPP participation is not compulsory), be installed by an SAA-accredited installer, and be at a grid-connected property (eligible off-grid homes can also qualify). The rebate applies to the first 50 kWh of usable capacity per property. You can only claim once per eligible battery at a given premises.

Solar Battery Rebate 2026: Calculate Your Federal + State Discount

Your details

State or territory

Postcode (optional, for zone accuracy)

Battery usable capacity (kWh)

13.5 kWh

Most popular home batteries are 10 to 15 kWh usable. Check your battery's datasheet for the usable (not nominal) capacity.

Solar system size (kW) optional, adds STC estimate

None

Select your state above to see your estimate.

For homeowners

Email me my estimate and the eligibility checklist

We will send your personalised estimate summary plus a plain-English checklist of what you need to be eligible for the CHBP in 2026.

Done! Check your inbox. The checklist covers approved batteries, VPP requirements, and what your installer handles for you.

For installers

The 2026 rule changes getting STC claims rejected

Since 1 March 2026 the Clean Energy Regulator requires geotagged, timestamped photos of battery labelling and serial numbers on every STC claim, and uses automated checks to reject the ones that fall short. NSW installs move to the mandatory CER (Consumer Energy Resources) Installer Portal from mid-2026 with CSIP-AUS backstop-enabled inverters, and solar panels not certified to IEC 61730:2023 came off the approved list on 1 May. Get the free one-page checklist covering all three, plus CEC approved-product, SAA accreditation, STC assignment and DNSP notification.

Done, check your inbox. The checklist covers the new STC photo-evidence rules, the NSW Installer Portal and CSIP-AUS backstop, CEC and IEC 61730:2023 product rules, plus SAA and DNSP steps for 2026.

How the rebate works

Three steps from battery quote to discount

Your battery earns certificates

When an eligible battery is installed, the scheme allows a set number of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) to be created. The count depends on your battery's usable capacity and the current scheme factor. In 2026 the rate is 6.8 certificates per usable kWh for the first 14 kWh of capacity.

A registered agent discounts those certificates at point of sale

You assign the right to create those certificates to a registered agent (a company approved by the Clean Energy Regulator). The agent creates the certificates and gives your installer an upfront discount equal to the certificate value. Your invoice is lower by that amount. You do not receive a cheque; the saving appears as a line-item discount on your battery quote.

Your installer handles the paperwork

Your SAA-accredited installer submits the installation details, serial numbers, and your signed STC assignment form to the registered agent. The agent lodges the certificates with the government's REC Registry. You sign one form; your installer does the rest. State scheme incentives (where available) follow a similar process through your installer or a VPP provider.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

No. This is an independent estimate tool, not affiliated with the Australian Government, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), or the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). For the official scheme rules, see dcceew.gov.au and the REC Registry. This calculator uses published scheme factors but scheme rules can change, so always confirm with your installer before committing.

To be eligible your battery must: (a) have at least 5 kWh of nominal capacity; (b) be on the Clean Energy Council's approved battery product list; (c) be capable of connecting to a Virtual Power Plant (though VPP participation is not compulsory); (d) be installed by an SAA-accredited installer; and (e) be at a grid-connected property (eligible off-grid homes can also qualify). The rebate applies to the first 50 kWh of usable capacity per property. You can only claim once per eligible battery at a given premises.

It depends on your state. As of June 2026: WA has an active Residential Battery Scheme (Synergy customers up to $1,300, Horizon Power customers up to $3,800), requiring VPP enrolment. NSW has the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, which can add up to around $1,100 net for VPP-connected batteries, plus the Home Energy Saver (from June 2026), zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for eligible households, which is financing rather than a discount. ACT offers a low-interest (3%) loan of up to $20,000 (not an upfront discount). QLD, VIC, SA, TAS and NT do not currently have active state battery rebate schemes; households in those states access the federal CHBP only.

Batteries between 5 kWh and 100 kWh in nominal capacity are eligible. The rebate is calculated on usable capacity (not nominal), up to a maximum of 50 kWh usable per installation. The rebate is tiered: the first 14 kWh of usable capacity earns the full rate; the next 14 kWh (up to 28 kWh usable) earns 60% of the rate; and usable capacity from 28 kWh to 50 kWh earns 15%. Most popular home batteries are in the 10 to 15 kWh usable range, which means they receive the full Tier 1 rate.

Very little. You will need to sign an STC assignment form, which your installer provides. This transfers the right to create the certificates to the registered agent so the discount can be applied to your invoice. For state schemes like WA, you may also need to enrol in a VPP through your chosen provider. Your SAA-accredited installer manages all other paperwork: the STC lodgement, DNSP notification, and compliance certificates required under your state's electrical safety rules.

From 1 March 2026 the Clean Energy Regulator requires clear, geotagged and timestamped photos of critical battery labelling and signage on every small-scale battery STC claim, including shots showing the battery and inverter serial numbers matching the REC Registry. Photos must be supplied in their original file format with metadata intact, not embedded in a PDF, and kept on file for 5 years. The Regulator uses automated checks during assessment, so missing or inconsistent photos are now a common reason claims are delayed or rejected.

From mid-2026 all solar and battery installers in New South Wales must register every new install through the CER (Consumer Energy Resources) Installer Portal, a single process across Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy that replaces manual entry into AEMO's DER Register. New and upgraded rooftop systems under 200 kW must be backstop-enabled, meaning the inverter complies with the Common Smart Inverter Profile Australia (CSIP-AUS) standard so the network can curtail exports during rare grid emergencies. Systems that are not backstop-enabled will not be compliant.

Yes, and the bar moved. From 1 May 2026 the Clean Energy Council only accepts new solar module applications certified to IEC 61730:2023, so panels not on the updated approved list are not STC-eligible. Batteries must be on the CEC approved battery product list and installed by an SAA-accredited installer to qualify for the federal rebate. Checking approved-product status per job before install is the cheapest way to avoid a rejected claim.

How much is your battery rebate worth?