The SA Government solar battery rebate that many people remember, the Home Battery Scheme, has closed. What South Australians can claim in 2026 now comes mainly from the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with a few smaller options on top.
If you are comparing quotes for solar battery installation in Adelaide, this guide sets out what is open, what has closed, how the federal discount is calculated and what your battery and installer must meet. Every rule below comes from government pages or is clearly attributed.
Key takeaways
- The SA Home Battery Scheme has closed to new applications, according to the SA Government.
- The federal discount is paid as small-scale technology certificates (STCs) on usable capacity, tiered by battery size.
- The STC factor is 6.8 for May to December 2026 and falls to 5.7 from January 2027, so installation date matters.
- The Clean Energy Regulator says only the first 50 kWh of usable capacity earns STCs, and the rate tapers above 14 kWh.
- Check your 2026 battery rebate eligibility before you sign: product, installer and VPP rules all apply.
Does the SA Government still offer a solar battery rebate?
No. The SA Government says its Home Battery Scheme has closed to new applications. South Australians can still claim the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, and some may access the REPS virtual power plant rebate, which SolarQuotes says is limited to priority group applicants for the rest of 2026.
South Australian battery support: what is open right now?
A discount paid as STCs on usable battery capacity. The Clean Energy Regulator says it is designed to equate to around 30% of the upfront cost, but the real figure depends on size and installation date.
SolarQuotes (updated 10 June 2026) says that for the rest of 2026 it is only available to priority group applicants, with more funding expected from the start of 2027.
It reports up to $1,030 for a 13 kWh battery and up to $2,050 for 28 kWh for priority applicants. Confirm current amounts with your retailer or ESCOSA.
Not a battery rebate. It is a regulated plan giving eligible households 3 hours of free midday electricity, available in South Australia. A smart meter is required.
The SA Government says some local councils offer rebates for small-scale generation and battery storage. Ask your council for current amounts.
The SA Government states the scheme has closed and new applications are not being accepted.
Sources: SA Department for Energy and Mining, Clean Energy Regulator, energy.gov.au, SolarQuotes. Tap a row for detail. Rules and funding change, so confirm before you buy.
How does the federal battery discount work in South Australia?
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) says STCs are calculated on the usable capacity of your battery, and only the first 50 kWh counts. The number of STCs per kWh, the STC factor, falls over time. It is 6.8 for May to December 2026 and 5.7 for January to June 2027, dropping to 2.1 by the second half of 2030.
The CER also says rebates are set by installation date, not the date you sign a contract. The same battery installed in January 2027 earns about 16% fewer certificates per kWh than one installed in December 2026, simply because 5.7 is 16% lower than 6.8.
STC factor by period: tap a tile to use it in the calculator
Source: Clean Energy Regulator STC factor table for solar batteries. Darker tiles earn more STCs per kWh. The orange tag marks the current period.
Since 1 May 2026 the factor is also tiered by size. The first 14 kWh earns the full factor, the next 14 kWh earns 60% and the next 22 kWh earns 15%. A 14 kWh battery at 6.8 creates about 95 STCs. A 28 kWh battery creates about 152, not double.
| Usable capacity band | Share of STC factor |
|---|---|
| 0 to 14 kWh | 100% |
| Above 14 up to 28 kWh | 60% |
| Above 28 up to 50 kWh | 15% |
| Above 50 kWh | No STCs |
STC tier calculator: how many certificates will your battery create?
0 to 14 kWh
100% of factor14 to 28 kWh
60% of factor28 to 50 kWh
15% of factor
100% of factor14 to 28 kWh
60% of factor28 to 50 kWh
15% of factor
Method: CER tier rules applied to usable kWh, multiplied by the selected period’s factor. Counts certificates only. The dollar value depends on the STC price your installer applies, so this is not a quote.
The CER states the discount is designed to equate to around 30% of the upfront cost. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy’s office says the program has been expanded to an estimated $7.2 billion over four years. Treat 30% as a design aim, not a promise, because size, date and price all move your actual saving. Our guide to the Cheaper Home Batteries Program covers the national picture.
What other support can South Australians claim?
The REPS is a state scheme delivered through energy retailers. The SA Government lists connecting a new or existing battery to an approved virtual power plant (VPP) as a typical activity, and says you do not have to be a customer of the retailer to access its activities. SolarQuotes reports the priority group includes pensioner or health care card holders, energy bill concession recipients, hardship program participants and tenants paying $500 or less a week in rent, with one claim per address.
The Solar Sharer Offer, available in South Australia from 1 July 2026, is a bill measure, not a battery rebate. Eligible households can use up to 24 kWh of free electricity in a 3-hour midday window, no rooftop solar needed. See our Solar Sharer Offer guide to check whether it changes the plan that suits you.
What must your battery and installer meet to qualify?
The CER sets out the conditions for the federal discount. Use this list when you compare quotes, and ask each installer for evidence, not just a yes.
Eligibility checklist: how many can your quote confirm?
Source: Clean Energy Regulator, Solar batteries. A guide only, not an eligibility decision.
How to claim the battery discount in five steps
- Get multiple quotes and compare the systems, as the CER recommends.
- Ask for evidence the battery is CEC approved and the installer is Solar Accreditation Australia accredited.
- Choose your size now. The CER says you cannot claim STCs for future additional batteries at the same premises.
- Check the quote shows the discount, installation date and price. The CER says retailers must honour the quotes they sign.
- Assign your STC rights to a registered agent for an upfront discount, or sell the STCs yourself.
When the rebate should not drive the decision
A falling STC factor is a reason to plan your install date, not to buy a bigger battery. The tiers pay less for each extra kWh above 14, so right-sizing matters. Start with your evening usage and our guide to residential battery storage specifications.
Frequently asked questions
Does the SA Government still offer a home battery rebate?
No. The SA Government states that its Home Battery Scheme has closed and new applications are not being accepted. South Australians can still claim the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, and some may qualify for the REPS virtual power plant rebate, which SolarQuotes says is for priority group applicants only for the rest of 2026.
How much can I claim for a battery in South Australia in 2026?
The federal discount is paid as STCs on usable capacity. The factor is 6.8 for May to December 2026, tiered at 100%, 60% and 15% across the first 50 kWh. The CER says it is designed to equate to around 30% of the upfront cost, but your dollar saving depends on size, date and STC price.
Who is eligible for the SA REPS battery rebate?
SolarQuotes says the priority group includes pensioner or health care card holders, energy bill concession recipients, hardship program participants, tenants paying $500 or less a week in rent and people referred by a SAFCA member. It is limited to one claim per address. Confirm current rules with your retailer or ESCOSA.
Does the rebate depend on when I sign or install?
Installation. The CER says rebates are determined by the installation date, not when a contract is signed. Because the STC factor steps down from 6.8 to 5.7 in January 2027, confirm your installation date in writing and make sure the quoted price will be honoured if the date slips.
What must my battery and installer meet to qualify?
The battery must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list, be 5 to 100 kWh nominal, be new and be installed with a solar PV system. The installer must be Solar Accreditation Australia accredited with a battery endorsement. Grid-connected batteries and their inverters must be capable of joining a virtual power plant.
Is the Solar Sharer Offer a battery rebate?
No. It is a regulated electricity plan giving eligible households 3 hours of free electricity in the middle of the day, available in South Australia from 1 July 2026. You need a smart meter and an eligible retailer, but not rooftop solar. It sits alongside, not instead of, any battery discount.
Get your South Australian battery rebate checked
Rules, funding and factors change, so quote details matter. UR Local Solar reviews your electricity usage, roof, goals and budget before recommending a system, with service teams in Adelaide and Sydney. Start with our solar battery rebate page and our solar battery systems overview.
Ready for numbers on your home? Book an appointment and bring a recent power bill.
Sources
- Clean Energy Regulator: Solar batteries
- Clean Energy Regulator: Batteries guidance for households
- Clean Energy Regulator: Battery rebates are changing 1 May 2026
- Minister for Climate Change and Energy: More Australians to benefit from Cheaper Home Batteries
- SA Department for Energy and Mining: Home Battery Scheme closed
- SA Department for Energy and Mining: Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme
- energy.gov.au: Solar Sharer Offer
- SolarQuotes: SA REPS VPP rebate
