Most homes export the majority of the solar they make and buy it back at four or five times the price after dark. A battery closes that gap, and since the federal battery discount arrived it has become the most requested job we quote.
We size batteries on your evening and overnight usage, not on headline capacity. That means looking at when your household actually draws power: whether the air conditioning runs late, whether an EV charges overnight, and how much solar you currently export. A battery that is too large never cycles fully and never pays for itself.
Battery work is electrical work of the more serious kind. Placement matters for heat, clearances and safety, DC cabling has to be run properly, and the switchboard needs to handle backup circuits if you want power during an outage. This is exactly the kind of job a licensed contractor with switchboard and supply experience should do.
Two incentives currently stack in NSW: the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, delivered as certificates that come off the purchase price, and a one-off NSW payment for connecting the battery to an approved virtual power plant. We explain what each is worth for your system before you commit.
What's included
- Usage assessment to size the battery properly
- Battery and hybrid inverter installation
- Retrofit to an existing solar system
- Backup circuit wiring so selected circuits stay live in a blackout
- Switchboard upgrades and dedicated protection
- Safe placement to Australian standards, including clearances and ventilation
- Virtual power plant connection where you choose to join one
- Monitoring and app setup
- Compliance certificate and network notification
Frequently asked questions
How much is the battery rebate worth?
The federal discount is delivered through certificates tied to your battery’s usable capacity, and the rate steps down twice a year, so the figure changes. As a guide it has been sitting near 30 per cent of the upfront cost for a typical home battery. We calculate the current figure for your exact battery and show it on the quote.
Do I need solar to get a battery?
Not any more. Batteries without solar are now eligible for the NSW virtual power plant incentive, and a battery can still save money on a time-of-use tariff. Solar plus battery is still the strongest combination.
Will it keep my house running in a blackout?
Only if it is set up for backup, which means nominating the circuits you want to stay live and wiring them separately. Tell us that is important to you and we will design for it.
Do I have to join a virtual power plant?
To claim the NSW incentive the battery needs to be VPP capable and connected to an approved provider. Joining is your choice, and we will explain the trade-offs before you decide.