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
- reduce your emissions and be an active part of helping NSW reach net zero by 2050.
This incentive will help reduce electricity demand during peak periods, and the risk of power outages in NSW. Installing more batteries across NSW will help make the grid more reliable and stable, while also reducing our reliance on fossil fuels during periods of peak demand.
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 VPP allows you to sell some of the excess stored energy in your battery when other people on the grid need it most. Find out more here.
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 the battery installation discount 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.
Solar Choice Solar Quotes Energy Matters
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.
- an installation contract, approving them to complete the installation.
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
The incentive is not a rebate. Installers accredited to provide the incentive give customers an upfront discount in their quotes.
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 conduct specific installations and upgrades 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 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 well below 28 kWh to be sufficient for their needs. The national average energy use for a 5-person household is 25 kWh per day.
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 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. Find out more here.
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. Find out more.
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.
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, or the Accredited Certificate Provider they work with, directly.
If you have any issues when dealing with an Accredited Certificate Provider or an installer, 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.