Estimate the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program discount for a home or small-business battery. The program pays bonus small-scale technology certificates (STCs), deemed upfront and delivered as an install discount through your retailer.
Estimated battery discount
$4,309
Battery STCs
113
Eligible weighted capacity
13.5 kWh
Estimate only. Final certificate counts, product eligibility and STC prices are determined by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) and your retailer. Confirm the current CER weighting before quoting a firm discount.
How the battery discount is calculated
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program creates bonus STCs for the usable capacity of an eligible battery, using a tiered weighting so larger batteries earn proportionally fewer certificates per kWh: 100% for the first 14 kWh, 60% for the next 14 kWh (14–28 kWh) and 15% for the next 22 kWh (28–50 kWh). Certificate creation is capped at 50 kWh of weighted capacity, and batteries above 100 kWh nameplate are not eligible at all. The weighted kWh is multiplied by a yearly factor (set by the CER, declining each year to 2030) and by the market STC price to reach the discount.
This is a federal scheme, separate from any state incentive. In NSW the same battery may also earn Peak Reduction Certificates under the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS) — the two stack. Try the NSW PDRS calculator, or estimate the solar panels' own certificates with the STC calculator.
CER tiered weighting at a glance
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program does not pay the same rate per kWh all the way up. Usable capacity is weighted in three declining tiers, and certificate creation stops once the weighted capacity reaches 50 kWh.
Tier
Capacity band
Weighting
Tier 1
0–14 kWh
100%
Tier 2
14–28 kWh
60%
Tier 3
28–50 kWh
15%
Above cap
50–100 kWh
Not counted (capped at 50 kWh weighted)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cheaper Home Batteries Program?
It is the federal battery incentive administered by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). Instead of a cash rebate, an eligible battery earns bonus small-scale technology certificates (STCs) that are deemed upfront and passed on as an install discount by an accredited retailer or installer, the same delivery mechanism as solar STCs.
How does the tiered weighting work?
The battery’s usable capacity is weighted in three tiers: 100% for the first 14 kWh, 60% for the next 14 kWh (14–28 kWh), and 15% for the next 22 kWh (28–50 kWh). Certificate creation is capped once the weighted capacity reaches 50 kWh, so bigger batteries earn proportionally fewer certificates per kWh above that point.
What size battery qualifies?
Any battery above 0 kWh and up to 100 kWh nameplate capacity is eligible. Batteries above 100 kWh, such as larger commercial or industrial installations, receive no battery STCs under this program at all, not just a capped count.
Is this the same as the NSW battery rebate (PDRS)?
No. This is a federal scheme available Australia-wide. NSW also runs the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme (PDRS), which pays Peak Reduction Certificates on top for batteries that shift the evening peak. The two stack, so a NSW household or business can claim both.
Does the value change depending on when I install?
Yes. The CER publishes a yearly weighting factor that declines each year the program runs, from 2026 through to 2030, so installing earlier generally earns a larger discount for the same battery size.
Do I need new solar to claim the battery discount?
No. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program certificates are based on the battery’s capacity alone. Solar panels installed at the same time earn their own, separate STCs under the standard small-scale scheme.
How much is a battery STC worth?
STC prices float with the certificate market, similarly to solar STCs. The calculator uses an indicative price you can adjust under Advanced; confirm the current value with your retailer before quoting a firm discount.