Battery discount update from 1 July 2025
This NSW battery discount is available for battery installations up until Monday 30 June 2025. It cannot be combined with the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount, which starts from Tuesday 1 July 2025.
From Tuesday 1 July 2025, this NSW battery installation discount will no longer be available.
However, from Tuesday 1 July 2025, the NSW Government incentive for connecting your battery to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) will nearly double. This Virtual Power Plant incentive can be combined with the Australian Government’s battery discount.
Future changes to our battery incentives will be updated on this page. Sign up here to also receive email updates about battery incentives.
You can access a discount on installing a battery in your home or small business with an existing solar system, or have the discount priced into a quote for a combined solar system and battery installation.
Installing a battery can help you:
- store and use more solar energy to reduce your electricity costs
- keep power on during outages
- keep power costs down, the lights on, and decrease NSW’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Installing more batteries across NSW will help make the electricity grid more reliable and stable during periods of peak demand. This will help reduce NSW’s emissions by 70% by 2035 and achieve net zero by 2050.
If you already have a battery installed, you are not currently eligible to receive this incentive. Existing batteries may be eligible to receive an incentive for connecting to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). A Virtual Power Plant allows you to sell some of the excess stored energy in your battery when other people on the grid need it most.
Find out how much you can save on a new battery
Unlike a rebate, the discount on the installation cost of your battery is only offered through installers working with this incentive, not directly through the NSW Government.
The discount amount is related to the usable capacity of the battery in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This means larger batteries will receive larger discounts.
Different installers may provide different discounts. To find out what discount amount you can receive and to get the best deal, we recommend comparing quotes from multiple installers accredited to offer this incentive. Installers will help you choose which battery is best suited to your needs and will tell you the discount you will receive on it.
Follow the steps below to find an installer accredited to offer this incentive and get a discount. For more information about this incentive read our FAQs.
How to access the incentive and install a new battery
Important information:
We want to ensure you are always protected. Before you begin, it’s important to know that as a consumer, you have basic rights when buying a product or service in Australia. These basic rights are called consumer guarantees and are protected under Australian Consumer Law. Visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website to learn more.
Please also read our terms of service.
If you’re interested in installing a battery or a combined solar and battery system and taking advantage of this incentive, you will need to work with an installer who is accredited to provide this incentive.
You should get multiple quotes from different installers to ensure you’re getting the best deal suited to your individual circumstances and needs. Make sure you ask each installer whether they’re offering this incentive and that the discount is included in the quote they give you.
Due to the expected high demand for this incentive, customers may experience wait times when organising a battery installation. When getting quotes, talk to installers about installation wait times.
Ways to find and choose an installer:
Contact local solar and battery installers directly
You can find local installers by searching for them online, using business directories, or getting recommendations from friends and family.
Use your own licensed tradesperson
If you’d like to use your own licensed tradesperson they will need to make a special agreement to do the work with an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP). Accredited Certificate Providers can be found on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)’s website.
Use a third-party comparison website
These third-party comparison websites can be used to find local installers, get quotes and compare products. They may also provide support to you throughout the quoting and installation process.
Energy Matters Solar Choice Solar Quotes
Important information about third-party comparison websites:
These comparison websites have been provided as a tool for searching for installers only. The listing of these comparison websites should not be considered as an endorsement of their services or a recommendation to use them. These comparison websites may be listed for an undetermined period, and we may remove them at any time. Comparison websites will be used at your own risk, it is your responsibility to find the right installer and quote that suits your specific needs and individual circumstances. The NSW Government does not take responsibility for any interactions or outcomes experienced by using comparison websites.
For other comparison websites interested in being listed on this website please contact us by emailing [email protected]
To choose which brand and model to install you should discuss with multiple installers what options are available to you in order to receive a discount. The installer can provide advice on what model is best suited for your circumstances.
While you can do your own research, it is important to note that not all battery models are eligible for this incentive.
Once you’ve chosen your battery model, let your installer know so they can organise for it to be installed.
Important information:
Some batteries may only be compatible with specific inverters. Ensure the battery you choose is compatible with your current inverter to avoid additional costs for changing inverters and voiding the warranty of your inverter. Your chosen installer or accredited supplier can assist with this. Find out more here.
Your chosen installer will provide you with:
- a nomination form which must be signed and returned for them to secure the discount on your installation under this incentive. This must be completed before the installation begins as you won’t be reimbursed for work already completed.
- a quote detailing the work to be completed, the discount you will receive and the total cost.
You may also be required to provide documentation proving your eligibility to claim this discount.
Once you have completed the paperwork, you can proceed with the installation and receive your discount. If you have any issues or questions, contact your installer for assistance.
Set a date for installation with your chosen installer. A licensed and accredited battery installer from your chosen installation company will:
- install your new system
- show you how to use it
- submit all necessary documents to your distribution network and electricity retailer to connect the battery to the grid and have it listed on the Distributed Energy Resources Register
- assist with any issues for the duration of the product’s warranty. In some cases the warranty on parts may be provided by the equipment manufacturer and not the installer.
More battery information
Learn more about battery storage, including how to install and how to make the most of them.
FAQs
Only installers working with Accredited Certificate Providers (ACPs) are eligible to offer this incentive.
Accredited Certificate Providers are businesses that have been accredited by the scheme administrator, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to offer this incentive under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS).
To be eligible for this incentive, you must:
- have solar installed on the premises before any battery is installed
- not have an existing battery installed on the premises
- be connected to the grid
- use an installer accredited to provide this incentive.
Generally, installers will provide a quote that states both the cost of the battery and the cost of the installation separately. However, installers have full discretion to choose how they quote, and some may instead provide a single all-inclusive price.
We recommend keeping a record of communications that clearly states the inclusions and exclusions of a quote before any money changes hands.
Batteries with storage between 2 and 28 kWh are eligible for this incentive. The incentive provided is proportional to the usable capacity of the battery.
Most households will find batteries much smaller than 28 kWh to be sufficient for their needs. The national average energy use for a 5-person household is 25 kWh per day. The average NSW household that has installed a battery has installed a 13 kWh battery. Energy stored in your battery should only need to be used while your solar panels aren’t generating energy, which is likely to be at night.
Some batteries can also be stacked to enable you to increase capacity later. Your installer will be able to provide more information on what capacity is best suited to your needs.
This battery installation incentive is only available for new battery installations.
Batteries already installed may be eligible to receive a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) incentive, provided the battery has 6 years of the manufacturer's warranty remaining and meets the equipment requirements.
No, a site with an existing battery is not eligible for this incentive. The installation of additional batteries to an existing system is also not eligible.
If you have an existing battery, you may be eligible to generate revenue through our Virtual Power Plant (VPP) incentive.
Provided that all equipment and implementation requirements of the standards are met, as required in the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS), and ongoing maintenance and monitoring are conducted, there is a very low risk of a battery causing a fire.
All installers in NSW are subject to checks to ensure compliance with strict safety requirements, including professional installation and adherence to relevant standards and regulations.
Batteries are eligible if they appear on the Clean Energy Council’s approved battery list and meet additional eligibility and equipment requirements set out by the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS).
They also need to be offered by your chosen installer. We recommend approaching multiple installers to find one that offers the battery you want, but also being open to suggestions from your installer that may best suit your circumstances.
No. The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) aims to reduce the load on the electricity grid. Off-grid batteries do not directly help reduce the load on the grid.
Your installer will ensure compliance with relevant Australian standards and regulations for installation and operation. Your installer will ensure there’s proper battery design, ventilation and professional installation to prevent overheating and ensure optimal operation. Find out more in the guide to owning a battery.
The NSW Government is updating the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) to complement the Australian Government’s new Cheaper Home Batteries Program which starts on 1 July 2025.
No, as of 1 July 2025 there will no longer be a battery installation discount available from the NSW Government.
We are suspending battery installations under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) due to the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program becoming available.
The NSW Government’s battery installation discount is being suspended as the Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program is providing a larger battery discount from 1 July 2025.
The NSW Government’s battery installation discount was created under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) to help reduce pressure on the electricity grid, as high demand can lead to power outages, higher power prices, and increased reliance on fossil fuels.
Following the introduction of the Australian Government’s battery discount, we are nearly doubling the incentive you can receive for connecting your battery to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). This will enable you to pay off your battery faster, while continuing to support the grid to keep power costs down and the lights on for your community.
The Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) Rule also doesn’t allow incentives or discounts for battery installations if they are also eligible to create certificates under the Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
The Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program will be delivered by expanding the remit of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. This means that batteries that are installed under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program will not be eligible for incentives or discounts under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.
No, battery installations in NSW are not able to claim both the NSW and Australian governments’ battery installation discounts.
We advise you to contact the Australian Government regarding the eligibility of battery installations that occur under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
No. Only battery installations that meet all requirements under the NSW Government’s Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) are eligible to receive incentives.
The current rules of the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme do not allow incentives for activities, including battery installations, that generate certificates under the Australian Government’s Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The Australian Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program will be operating through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme from 1 July 2025.
We suggest you contact the Australian Government regarding your eligibility for battery installations through the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
Who to contact if you have questions or issues
If you have any questions about the incentive or have issues with your battery, you should contact your installer. Alternatively, you can contact the Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP) listed on the nomination form you signed when agreeing to the installation.
If you are unable to resolve matters about the work you contracted to be done, you may seek the assistance of NSW Fair Trading. Complaints about unlicensed work or licensing matters may be referred to the Building Commission NSW.
If you are unable to identify the Accredited Certificate Provider or if you have concerns about the conduct of an Accredited Certificate Provider or their representatives with respect to this incentive, you should contact the scheme administrator, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Installers wanting to participate
If you are an installer that wants to offer this discount to your customers under this incentive, you must be partnered with an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP). These businesses work independently from the NSW Government and have been accredited by the scheme's administrator, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), to provide this incentive. Accredited Certificate Providers will also assist you with the incentive requirements.
If you are an installer looking to partner with an Accredited Certificate Provider operating in your area, Accredited Certificate Providers can be found on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)’s website.
Please contact [email protected] if you require further information.
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