001 The case
Three things have changed.
The maths is at its strongest right now. A stored kWh used at night is worth ~30c. The same kWh exported is worth ~5c. The battery captures the 25c gap, every day, for ten years and more.
Feed-in tariffs collapsed
Energex-area retailers now typically pay 5–8c/kWh for exported solar — a third of what they paid five years ago.
Evening peaks climbed
You pay 30c+/kWh from 4 pm to 9 pm — exactly when households use most power.
Rebate is the largest it will be
The federal program steps down every six months from May 2026 through 2030. Today is the high-water mark.
Backup is now standard
Most modern batteries support essential-circuit or whole-home backup. Storms no longer mean the fridge defrosts.
002 Batteries we install
Brand-agnostic.
CEC-listed only.
All systems are eligible for the federal rebate. We recommend based on your home, not based on what's in the warehouse.
| Brand | Size options | Backup | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall 3 | 13.5 kWh | Whole home | 10 years |
| Sungrow SBR | 9.6 – 25.6 kWh | Essential circuits | 10 years |
| BYD Battery-Box Premium | 7.7 – 27.6 kWh | Yes | 10 years |
| AlphaESS SMILE | 10.1 – 30.3 kWh | Yes | 10 years |
003 Sizing
From your smart-meter data, not a guess.
If your retailer offers half-hourly data downloads, send us the last 90 days and we'll model the right size before the site visit.
- 10 kWh — small home, modest evening use
- 13.5 kWh — average 3–4 person family
- 16 – 20 kWh — pool, ducted aircon, high evening load
- 20 – 27 kWh — large family, EV, home office
Adding a battery to an existing solar system.
Two scenarios — we'll tell you which applies before you commit:
- Existing inverter is hybrid-ready — battery wires in directly. Typically one-day install.
- Existing inverter is solar-only — we add a battery inverter (AC-coupled). Slightly more involved but still usually a one-day job.
Backup power.
Most of our installs include essential-circuit backup wiring: when the grid drops out, the battery automatically powers your fridge, internet, key lights and a few power points. Whole-home backup is available on Tesla Powerwall 3 and some Sungrow configurations.
004 Rebate trajectory
Step-downs locked into legislation.
Indicative figures for a standard 10 kWh battery, based on current STC market values.
| When you install | Approx. rebate (10 kWh) | Δ vs. today |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1 May 2026 | $3,300 – $3,400 | today |
| May – Oct 2026 | $2,600 – $2,700 | – $700 |
| Nov 2026 – Apr 2027 | ~$2,200 | – $1,200 |
| Mid 2028 | ~$1,800 | – $1,600 |
| Mid 2030 | ~$800 | – $2,600 |