Battery prices
How much does a solar battery cost in Melbourne in 2026?
In Melbourne a home battery costs about $748 to $778 per usable kWh installed after the federal rebate, going by national market data (no Melbourne-only figure is published): a 10 kWh battery averaged $7,784 including GST in August 2026 (Solar Choice Battery Price Index; not our price). Capacity, brand and a battery-ready inverter set most of the price: see our solar batteries guide.
Those prices already have the federal rebate off: installed in May–December 2026 it is worth about $3,300 on a 12.8 kWh battery and $3,900 on a 16 kWh one, at $38 per STC, the top of the $33–$38 the Clean Energy Regulator says agents usually pay. We inspect your home and quote a fixed installed price with the rebate taken off.
Updated
Solar battery cost after the rebate, by size
How much is a solar battery? Compare home batteries on usable capacity, the storage you can actually use, and on the price after the federal rebate, because that is what you pay. Searching for a 10kW or a 20kW solar battery price? Battery storage is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), so those searches usually mean a battery of about 10 or 20 kWh.
| Usable capacity | Battery only | Per kWh | With an extra inverter | Per kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | $7,784 | $778 | $8,284 | $828 |
| 20 kWh | $14,972 | $749 | $15,772 | $789 |
| 30 kWh | $22,489 | $750 | $23,089 | $770 |
| 40 kWh | $29,911 | $748 | $31,111 | $778 |
| 50 kWh | $38,534 | $771 | $40,034 | $801 |
The index publishes prices after the rebate only, so there is no sourced “before rebate” market price to show, and we don’t work one out by adding the rebate back.
We don’t publish a list price, because the same battery can cost a different amount to install in two homes: the switchboard, the wall or floor it goes on, the cable run and whether you want backup all change the job. After a free inspection you get a fixed installed price with the rebate already taken off.
Price per kWh as the battery gets bigger
You might expect a bigger battery to cost much less per kWh. In the Solar Choice Battery Price Index for August 2026, it barely moves: a battery on its own averaged $778 per usable kWh at 10 kWh and $771 at 50 kWh after the rebate, never outside $748 to $778. With an extra inverter for existing solar the range was $770 to $828 per kWh. That is national market data, not our price.
The rebate is one reason. It pays the full factor on the first 14 kWh of usable capacity, 60% of it from 14 to 28 kWh, 15% from 28 to 50 kWh and nothing above 50 kWh, so each extra kWh gets less help: about $258 per kWh on a 10 kWh battery, but about $132 per kWh across a 50 kWh one.
| Usable capacity | Rebate if installed May–December 2026 | Rebate per kWh | Rebate if installed January–June 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | 68 STCs, about $2,600 | about $258 | 57 STCs, about $2,200 |
| 12.8 kWh | 87 STCs, about $3,300 | about $258 | 72 STCs, about $2,700 |
| 14 kWh | 95 STCs, about $3,600 | about $258 | 79 STCs, about $3,000 |
| 16 kWh | 103 STCs, about $3,900 | about $245 | 86 STCs, about $3,300 |
| 20 kWh | 119 STCs, about $4,500 | about $226 | 100 STCs, about $3,800 |
| 28 kWh | 152 STCs, about $5,800 | about $206 | 127 STCs, about $4,800 |
| 30 kWh | 154 STCs, about $5,900 | about $195 | 129 STCs, about $4,900 |
| 40 kWh | 164 STCs, about $6,200 | about $156 | 137 STCs, about $5,200 |
| 50 kWh (the cap) | 174 STCs, about $6,600 | about $132 | 146 STCs, about $5,500 |
So size the battery to the power you use after dark, then compare quotes on the price per usable kWh after the rebate. The battery size calculator shows how much of your evening use each size would cover.
How the battery rebate changes the price
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program pays the rebate as small-scale technology certificates (STCs). We claim them for you and take their value off your quote, so you pay the lower price on the day. The number of STCs is the battery’s usable capacity × the factor for the month it is installed, 6.8 for May–December 2026, weighted by the size bands above. It doesn’t depend on your postcode.
Worked example: a 12.8 kWh battery installed in May–December 2026 earns 87 STCs, about $3,300 off. The same battery installed from 1 January 2027 earns 72 STCs, about $2,700, because the factor drops to 5.7.
Solar battery cost in Victoria: there is no Victorian battery rebate at the moment. Solar Victoria’s battery page now only covers repayments on earlier battery loans, so the federal program is the battery discount.
Example: a 12.8 kWh battery in most of Melbourne
- Battery STCs 87 certificates at $38
- $3,310
- Estimated total rebateDepending on the STC price your installer credits
- $2,870–$3,310
Installed from 1 January 2027, the same system gets $570 less.
Batteries smaller than 5 kWh can’t claim the battery rebate.
Get a quote with every rebate appliedHow it works: Battery STCs = usable kWh × the battery factor (6.8 per kWh for installs in May–December 2026), at 100% for the first 14 kWh, 60% from 14 to 28 kWh and 15% from 28 to 50 kWh. Each certificate is valued at $33 to $38, the range the Clean Energy Regulator says agents usually pay; single figures use $38, the top of that range. Estimate only: the final figure is on your quote and depends on the certificate price, the install date and the products.
Dollar figures use $38 per STC, the top of the range the CER says agents usually pay, for every period. The number of STCs is set by the program; their dollar value in later years depends on the STC price then.
Sungrow vs Alpha ESS: features and price
Both batteries use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. The differences that change the price are how big each module is and how far the battery can grow.
| Battery | Module size | Expansion | Where it can go | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sungrow SBR high-voltage battery | 3.2 kWh modules | 2 to 8 modules in one stack, added during its life | Indoor or outdoor, floor standing (IP55) | 10 years (conditions in Sungrow’s warranty letter) |
| Alpha ESS SMILE-G3 home battery system | 9.3 kWh modules | 1 to 4 modules (9.3 to 37.2 kWh) | Outdoor (IP65) | 10-year product warranty and 10-year battery performance warranty (at least 70% of usable capacity after 10 years) |
Smaller modules let you buy closer to the size you need; larger modules reach a big battery with fewer units. We recommend the size from your bills at the inspection. To weigh up other brands as well, see how home batteries compare.
No market index we use publishes prices by brand, so we don’t show one. Each brand’s price is on your quote, installed, with the federal rebate already taken off.
Solar and battery package prices
If you are pricing panels and a battery together, compare the solar and battery price as one package: panels, a hybrid inverter that runs both, the battery and installation on one quote, with the solar STCs and the battery rebate both taken off. Our packages pair 6.6 kW to 28 kW of solar with a 12.8 kWh battery, or 16 kWh or more for three phase homes.
| Package | Power supply | Federal rebates, about |
|---|---|---|
| 6.6kW solar + 12.8kWh battery | Single phase | $4,800 |
| 15kW solar + 12.8kWh battery | Single phase | $6,700 |
| 19.8kW solar + 12.8kWh battery | Single phase | $7,800 |
| 15kW solar + 16kWh+ battery | Three phase | $7,300 |
| 21kW solar + 16kWh+ battery | Three phase | $8,600 |
| 28kW solar + 16kWh+ battery | Three phase | $10,200 |
A package price depends on your roof, your switchboard and the panels you choose, so we give you a fixed price in writing after a free inspection, with the rebates above already taken off. No price index we use publishes combined solar and battery prices, and we don’t add a solar price to a battery price to make one.
A 13kW solar system with a battery
Pricing a 13kW solar system with a battery? The solar earns its own rebate on top of the battery’s: in most of Melbourne, 13 kW of solar with a 12.8 kWh battery installed today gets 77 + 87 = 164 STCs, about $6,200 off at most. Some northern and western suburbs and most of regional Victoria are in a higher rebate zone and get more for the panels. 10 kW isn’t one of our package sizes; our 10kW solar system guide covers that size with a battery.
Installation costs and extras
The battery is only part of an installed price. The rest depends on your home, which is why two quotes for the same battery can differ.
What changes the price
- Usable capacity. More kWh costs more, but the rebate per kWh falls above 14 kWh, so the price per kWh after the rebate doesn’t fall in a straight line.
- Brand and model. Batteries are built from modules of different sizes, so the steps between sizes, and the price of each step, differ by brand.
- Switchboard upgrade. An older switchboard may need upgrading before a battery can be connected safely. Solar Victoria’s advice on solar quotes names switchboard upgrades as an additional charge a quote should cover. We check the switchboard at the inspection, so it is priced in or ruled out before you sign. What a switchboard upgrade involves.
- Blackout backup. Keeping circuits on in a blackout needs a backup-capable inverter and extra wiring for the backed-up circuits.
- Single or three phase. A three-phase home needs a three-phase inverter, which changes the equipment on the quote.
- New hybrid or retrofit. On new solar, one hybrid inverter runs the panels and the battery. On existing solar, the battery either gets its own inverter (AC-coupled) or the old inverter is swapped for a hybrid.
What an installed price should include
- the battery, and a hybrid or battery inverter where one is needed
- mounting, cabling and any protection the site needs
- switchboard work and the backup circuit, if you want backup
- network approval, commissioning and setting up the monitoring app
- the rebate paperwork, with the rebate taken off the price
Ask what is included before you compare two quotes: a lower price that leaves out the switchboard or the backup circuit can end up costing more.
Solar battery deals: what to check
A good battery deal is a fair price for a battery sized to your evening use and installed properly, not the lowest headline number. In Victoria a deal can only take off the federal rebate, because no Victorian battery rebate is open. Before you sign one, check:
- The price after the rebate, in writing. The quote should show the number of STCs and the dollars per STC, so you can check them against the rebate by size. Then compare deals on price per usable kWh.
- The exact model and its usable kWh. The rebate needs a battery on the Clean Energy Council approved batteries list, and both the rebate and a fair comparison go by usable capacity.
- “Free” or bargain batteries. The federal discount aims at around 30% of the cost, not all of it. Ask what the rest costs, including any finance or energy plan bundled with the offer.
- “Sign now before the rebate drops.” The Clean Energy Regulator says: “Rebates are determined by the installation date, not when a contract is signed.” Its advice is to confirm that the installation will be possible and the price quoted will be honoured.
- What the price leaves out. The inverter, switchboard work and the backup circuit are the usual gaps: see installation costs and extras.
- The deposit and more than one quote. Consumer Affairs Victoria says to negotiate the deposit, usually 10%, and Solar Victoria’s advice on choosing a retailer is to get at least three quotes to compare.
Door-knocks, cold calls and rebate scams have their own rules and warning signs, set out in our guide to choosing an installer.
Does a battery pay for itself in Melbourne?
A battery earns its keep by moving solar you would have exported to the evening, when you would otherwise buy power. Each kWh it moves saves the price you pay for power, less the feed-in tariff you would have earned on it. Victoria has had no minimum feed-in tariff since 1 July 2025, and on the Victorian Default Offer’s time-of-use tariff the 4 pm to 9 pm peak is 37.57c to 47.64c per kWh, exactly when a battery runs your home.
- Yearly saving = kWh the battery moves each day × 365 × (your import rate − your feed-in rate), a little less in practice because some energy is lost charging and discharging.
- Payback = your installed price after the rebate ÷ the yearly saving.
A battery pays back fastest in a home that uses a lot of power in the evening and has solar to spare during the day. We work out your saving from your own bills at the inspection, so the payback on your quote is yours.
Battery payback worked out for four homes
Paying it off
You can pay for a battery upfront or spread the cost with a bank green loan or other finance. Solar Victoria’s battery page only covers repayments on earlier battery loans. Whichever way you pay, compare the repayment with your expected saving before you sign.
Solar battery cost: your questions
How much does a solar battery cost?
The installed price depends on the battery’s usable capacity, the brand, whether it goes on new or existing solar, and what your switchboard needs. We give you a fixed price after a free inspection, with the federal battery rebate already taken off. That rebate is up to about $3,300 on a 12.8 kWh battery and up to about $3,900 on a 16 kWh battery installed in May–December 2026. Get a solar battery quote
What does a solar battery cost after the rebate?
As market data, not our price: across Australia a 10 kWh battery averaged $7,784 installed in August 2026 and a 20 kWh battery $14,972, including GST and after the federal rebate (Solar Choice Battery Price Index, August 2026). Those prices assume a battery-ready inverter is already in place. Your quote from us is a fixed price with the rebate already taken off. Prices by size
Is a bigger battery worth the extra cost?
Only if you use the extra storage after dark. The rebate per kWh falls as the battery grows: full rate on the first 14 kWh, 60% from 14 to 28 kWh and 15% from 28 to 50 kWh. Installed in May–December 2026, going from 12.8 to 16 kWh earns about 5 more STCs per extra kWh, while going from 28 to 50 kWh earns about 1. Compare batteries on the price per usable kWh after the rebate, and size to your evening use. Price per kWh by size
What do 30, 40 and 50 kWh batteries cost?
As market data, not our price: across Australia a 30 kWh battery averaged $22,489, a 40 kWh battery $29,911 and a 50 kWh battery $38,534 installed in August 2026, including GST and after the federal rebate, where a battery-ready inverter was already in place (Solar Choice Battery Price Index, August 2026). The rebate pays only 15% of the factor from 28 to 50 kWh and nothing above 50 kWh, so a battery this big gets much less help per kWh. Size it to your evening use first. Battery prices by size
Is it cheaper to buy solar and a battery together?
Often, because one hybrid inverter runs both the panels and the battery, it is one installation, and the solar STCs and the battery rebate come off the same quote. If your existing solar is recent and its inverter can take a battery, or you add an AC-coupled battery with its own inverter, adding a battery on its own can make more sense. We check both options at the inspection. Solar and battery packages
How much is a 13kW solar system with a battery?
It depends on the panels, the inverter and the battery, so it is priced on a quote; no price index we use publishes a combined 13kW solar and battery price. The rebates are known: in most of Melbourne, 13 kW of solar with a 12.8 kWh battery installed in May–December 2026 earns about 164 STCs, worth up to about $6,200 off the price. Package prices
What should I check before taking a solar battery deal?
The price after the rebate in writing, with the number of STCs and the dollars per STC; the exact battery model and its usable kWh; whether the inverter, switchboard work and backup circuit are included; and the deposit, which Consumer Affairs Victoria says is usually 10%. The rebate follows the installation date, not the contract date, so a deadline to sign doesn’t lock it in. Red flags when choosing an installer
How long before a battery needs replacing?
Every home battery in our comparison carries a warranty of at least 10 years. Sungrow gives its SBR battery a 10-year warranty, and Alpha ESS warrants that its battery keeps at least 70% of its usable capacity after 10 years. A battery keeps working after that, with less capacity. Your quote lists the exact warranty for the model you choose. How long batteries last
What a battery is worth to a Melbourne home
No Melbourne-only battery price is published, so the national market figures above are a guide and the fixed price on your quote is the Melbourne price. Compare quotes the way the tables do, on price per usable kWh after the rebate. What is local is the value of each kWh the battery moves into the evening. On the Victorian Default Offer’s time-of-use tariff, the 4 pm to 9 pm peak costs 37.57c a kWh in the Jemena area (northern and north-western suburbs) and 47.64c in the AusNet Services area (outer northern and eastern suburbs and eastern Victoria), so the same battery at the same price saves more on some Melbourne streets than others. Bring a recent bill to the free inspection: we price the battery and work out its saving at your own rates.
Get a fixed battery price
Free inspection, no obligation. Every federal rebate your home qualifies for comes off before you see the price.
Talk to us about a battery price
Locally owned, locally installed. Call, email, or send the form and we’ll come out and inspect the property.
- Phone
- 0485 000 015
- Workshop
- 8/41 Ricketts Road,
Mount Waverley, VIC 3149