Solar Battery Prices: Are Home Batteries Finally Worth It?

Finn Peacock holding money in front of a home battery.

Last Updated: 29th Apr 2026 By Finn Peacock, Chartered Electrical Engineer, Fact Checked By Ronald Brakels

For many Aussies, solar batteries have long been a smart idea in theory, but financially frustrating in practice. That’s changing, thanks to falling battery prices, a federal battery rebate, and state rebates. Now, in the right states, batteries can pay for themselves before their warranty period expires.

The price you’ll pay for a battery with the rebate depends on whether you are:

  • installing a solar + battery system from scratch,
  • adding a battery to an existing solar setup with a hybrid inverter,
  • or retrofitting one where a new battery inverter is needed,

In this guide, we will look at popular home battery brands, explain which rebates are available, and which components contribute to the overall battery system cost.

How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost?

Typically, solar battery prices range from around $4,000 up to $13,000 or more depending on how much storage you are after. Thanks to the federal battery rebate, solar batteries are now more affordable than ever, with thousands shaved off their upfront costs. All battery prices listed below already include this rebate as well as GST. However, it excludes installation cost.

To compare more specs, explore our detailed solar battery comparison table.

Sungrow SBR HV 16 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 16 kWh

$7,000

16 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 19.2 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 19.2 kWh

$8,300

19.2 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 22.4 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 22.4 kWh

$9,600

22.4 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 25.6 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 25.6 kWh

$11,000

25.6 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 12.8 kWh

Sungrow SBR HV 12.8 kWh

$5,800

12.8 kWh

Sungrow SBH200

Sungrow SBH200

$9,000

20 kWh

Sungrow SBH250

Sungrow SBH250

$11,200

25 kWh

Sungrow SBH300

Sungrow SBH300

$13,800

30 kWh

Sungrow SBH350

Sungrow SBH350

$16,500

35 kWh

Sungrow SBH400

Sungrow SBH400

$19,200

40 kWh

SigenStor Single-Phase (16 kWh)

SigenStor Single-Phase (16 kWh)

$6,800

15.6 kWh

SigenStor Single-Phase (24 kWh)

SigenStor Single-Phase (24 kWh)

$10,000

23.4 kWh

SigenStor Single-Phase (32 kWh)

SigenStor Single-Phase (32 kWh)

$13,700

31.2 kWh

SigenStor Single-Phase (40 kWh)

SigenStor Single-Phase (40 kWh)

$17,800

39 kWh

SigenStor Single-Phase (48 kWh)

SigenStor Single-Phase (48 kWh)

$22,000

46.8 kWh

SigenStor Single-Phase (13 kWh)

SigenStor Single-Phase (13 kWh)

$6,300

13 kWh

SigenStor Three-Phase (32 kWh)

SigenStor Three-Phase (32 kWh)

$15,500

31.2 kWh

SigenStor Three-Phase (40 kWh)

SigenStor Three-Phase (40 kWh)

$19,600

39 kWh

SigenStor Three-Phase (48 kWh)

SigenStor Three-Phase (48 kWh)

$24,000

46.8 kWh

SigenStor Three-Phase (24 kWh)

SigenStor Three-Phase (24 kWh)

$11,900

23.4 kWh

SigenStor Three-Phase (16 kWh)

SigenStor Three-Phase (16 kWh)

$8,600

15.6 kWh

SigenStor Three-Phase (13 kWh)

SigenStor Three-Phase (13 kWh)

$8,000

13 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 11.98 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 11.98 kWh

$1,500

11.98 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 17.97 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 17.97 kWh

$2,600

17.97 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 23.96 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 23.96 kWh

$3,900

23.96 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 29.95 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 29.95 kWh

$5,500

29.95 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 35.94 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 35.94 kWh

$7,500

35.94 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 41.93 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 41.93 kWh

$9,500

41.93 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 47.92 kWh

Fox-ESS CQ6 47.92 kWh

$9,500

47.92 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 13.98 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 13.98 kWh

$1,750

13.98 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 18.64 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 18.64 kWh

$2,800

18.64 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 23.30 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 23.30 kWh

$3,800

23.30 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 27.96 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 27.96 kWh

$4,900

27.96 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 32.62 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 32.62 kWh

$6,400

32.62 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 37.28 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 37.28 kWh

$7,900

37.28 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 41.94 kWh

Fox-ESS EQ 41.94 kWh

$9,500

41.94 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (10 kWh)

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (10 kWh)

$3,700

10 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (15 kWh)

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (15 kWh)

$4,500

15 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (20 kWh)

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (20 kWh)

$5,600

20 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (25 kWh)

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (25 kWh)

$7,000

25 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (30 kWh)

AlphaESS Smile-M5 (30 kWh)

$8,500

30 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-G3-S5 10.1 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-G3-S5 10.1 kWh

$4,600

9.6 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-G3-S5 20.2 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-G3-S5 20.2 kWh

$7,800

19.2 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-G3-S5 30.3 kWh

AlphaESS Smile-G3-S5 30.3 kWh

$11,500

28.8 kWh

Tesla Powerwall 3

Tesla Powerwall 3

$10,000 (including Gateway)

13.5 kWh

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 16.6

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 16.6

$7,000

16.56 kWh

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 19.3

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 19.3

$8,300

19.32 kWh

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 22.1

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 22.1

$9,500

22.08 kWh

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 44.2

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 44.2

$22,000

44.16 kWh

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 13.8

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 13.8

$5,800

13.80 kWh

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 11.0

BYD Battery Box Premium HVM 11.0

$4,845

11.04 kWh

Enphase IQ Battery 5P

Enphase IQ Battery 5P

$7,200

5.0 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery

SolarEdge Home Battery

$7,500

9.7 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery (three phase) 14.55 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery (three phase) 14.55 kWh

$12,000

14.55 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery (three phase) 19.4 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery (three phase) 19.4 kWh

$15,600

19.4 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery (three phase) 24.25 kWh

SolarEdge Home Battery (three phase) 24.25 kWh

$19,400

24.25 kWh

Neovolt 10 kWh

Neovolt 10 kWh

$5,100

9.6 kWh

Neovolt 20 kWh

Neovolt 20 kWh

$7,200

19.2 kWh

Neovolt 30 kWh

Neovolt 30 kWh

$10,000

28.8 kWh

Neovolt 40 kWh

Neovolt 40 kWh

$13,400

38.4 kWh

Neovolt 50 kWh

Neovolt 50 kWh

$17,000

48 kWh

Growatt APX HV 10.0

Growatt APX HV 10.0

$4,200

9 kWh

Growatt APX HV 15.0

Growatt APX HV 15.0

$5,800

13.5 kWh

Growatt APX HV 20.0

Growatt APX HV 20.0

$6,500

18 kWh

Growatt APX HV 25.0

Growatt APX HV 25.0

$7,800

22.5 kWh

Growatt APX HV 30.0

Growatt APX HV 30.0

$9,800

27 kWh

Goodwe ESA 16 kWh

Goodwe ESA 16 kWh

$4,600

16 kWh

Goodwe ESA 24 kWh

Goodwe ESA 24 kWh

$6,500

24 kWh

Goodwe ESA 32 kWh

Goodwe ESA 32 kWh

$9,200

32 kWh

Goodwe ESA 40 kWh

Goodwe ESA 40 kWh

$12,000

40 kWh

Goodwe ESA 48 kWh

Goodwe ESA 48 kWh

$15,000

48 kWh

Goodwe ESA 15 kWh

Goodwe ESA 15 kWh

$4,300

15 kWh

ESY Sunhome HM6-10

ESY Sunhome HM6-10

$4,600

9.73 kWh

ESY Sunhome HM6-15

ESY Sunhome HM6-15

$5,500

14.59 kWh

ESY Sunhome HM6-20

ESY Sunhome HM6-20

$7,300

19.46 kWh

ESY Sunhome HM6-25

ESY Sunhome HM6-25

$8,500

24.32 kWh

ESY Sunhome HM6-30

ESY Sunhome HM6-30

$10,300

29.18 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 15 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 15 kWh

$7,100

15 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 20 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 20 kWh

$9,300

20 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 25 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 25 kWh

$11,500

25 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 30 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 30 kWh

$14,000

30 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 10 kWh

Anker SOLIX X1 10 kWh

$5,300

10 kWh

iStore Smart Battery (10 kWh)

iStore Smart Battery (10 kWh)

$7,800

10 kWh

iStore Smart Battery (15 kWh)

iStore Smart Battery (15 kWh)

$11,100

15 kWh

iStore Smart Battery (30 kWh)

iStore Smart Battery (30 kWh)

$23,500

30 kWh

Fronius Reserva 12.6

Fronius Reserva 12.6

$6,200

12.63 kWh

Fronius Reserva 15.8

Fronius Reserva 15.8

$7,400

15.79 kWh

Fronius Reserva 31.6

Fronius Reserva 31.6

$16,600

31.58 kWh

Fronius Reserva 47.4

Fronius Reserva 47.4

$27,000

47.37 kWh

Pylontech Force H3X Hybrid (10 kWh)

Pylontech Force H3X Hybrid (10 kWh)

$5,600

9.73 kWh 

Pylontech Force H3X Hybrid (20 kWh)

Pylontech Force H3X Hybrid (20 kWh)

$10,600

19.46 kWh 

Pylontech Force H3X Hybrid (35 kWh)

Pylontech Force H3X Hybrid (35 kWh)

$18,500

34.05 kWh 

SOFAR PowerAll (10 kWh)

SOFAR PowerAll (10 kWh)

$3,500

9.5 kWh

SOFAR PowerAll (15 kWh)

SOFAR PowerAll (15 kWh)

$4,500

14.25 kWh

SOFAR PowerAll (20 kWh)

SOFAR PowerAll (20 kWh)

$6,000

19 kWh

SOFAR PowerAll (25 kWh)

SOFAR PowerAll (25 kWh)

$7,400

23.75 kWh

SOFAR PowerAll (30 kWh)

SOFAR PowerAll (30 kWh)

$9,000

28.5 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 10.2 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 10.2 kWh

$4,500

10.2 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 15.3 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 15.3 kWh

$6,100

15.3 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 20.4 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 20.4 kWh

$8,102

20.4 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 25.5 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 25.5 kWh

$10,100

25.5 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 30.7 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 30.7 kWh

$12,300

30.7 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 35.8 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 35.8 kWh

$14,700

35.8 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 40.9 kWh

SolaX TSYS-HS51 40.9 kWh

$17,300

40.9 kWh

SolaX X1 10.2

SolaX X1 10.2

$6,800

9.2 kWh

SolaX X1 15.3

SolaX X1 15.3

$9,400

13.8 kWh

SolaX X1 20.4

SolaX X1 20.4

$12,200

18.4 kWh

SolaX X3 10.2

SolaX X3 10.2

$7,300

9.2 kWh

SolaX X3 15.3

SolaX X3 15.3

$9,900

13.8 kWh

SolaX X3 20.4

SolaX X3 20.4

$12,500

18.4 kWh

SolaX X3 25.6

SolaX X3 25.6

$14,400

23 kWh

SolaX X3 30.7

SolaX X3 30.7

$17,100

27.6 kWh

Bluetti EP760 9.9

Bluetti EP760 9.9

$6,500

8.9 kWh

FranklinWH aPower X-02-AU (15 kWh)

FranklinWH aPower X-02-AU (15 kWh)

$10,800 (including FranklinWH aGate)

15 kWh

FranklinWH aPower X-02-AU (30 kWh)

FranklinWH aPower X-02-AU (30 kWh)

$21,000 (including FranklinWH aGate)

30 kWh

FranklinWH aPower X-02-AU (45 kWh)

FranklinWH aPower X-02-AU (45 kWh)

$32,400 (including FranklinWH aGate)

45 kWh

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 12.7

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 12.7

$10,200

12.70 kWh

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 25.4

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 25.4

$21,200

25.4 kWh

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 38.1

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 38.1

$33,800

38.1 kWh

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 50.8

PowerPlus Energy Whispr 50.8

$46,400

50.8 kWh

sonnenBatterie Evo

sonnenBatterie Evo

$9,700

10 kWh

LAVO Storage S2

LAVO Storage S2

$8,600

9.7 kWh

If you have no idea which of these brands to pick and just want a reliable set-and-forget battery system, you can request quotes from our network of pre-vetted installers who will find the right battery for your home.

Table of Contents

  1. How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost?
  2. What Affects The Cost Of A Home Battery System?
  3. There Are 3 Kinds of Battery Buyers: Which One Are You?
  4. Battery Payback: Can They Actually Pay for Themselves?
  5. How Much Will Battery Rebates Cover?
  6. What Affects The Battery Price?
  7. What Affects the Battery Inverter Price?
  8. What Affects Battery Installation Cost?
  9. Financing Your Battery Purchase
  10. Wrapping Up: Solar Battery Prices in Australia

What Affects The Cost Of A Home Battery System?

What you pay for a home battery system is the sum of the:

And if you want to charge the battery from solar – you, of course, need solar panels too.

There Are 3 Kinds of Battery Buyers: Which One Are You?

To get an accurate picture of what a battery will really cost you, you first need to figure out which of these three buyers you are:

Cost ComponentBuyer #1:
New Solar + Battery
Buyer #2:
Battery Only (Hybrid Inverter Already Installed)
Buyer #3:
Battery Only (No Hybrid Inverter)
Battery
Hybrid Inverter(shared with solar)(already installed)(must buy one or use AC-coupled)
Installation(lowest)(simple)(can be higher)
Solar Panels(required)(already installed)(already installed)
Federal Battery Rebate

Even if these 3 buyers are all considering the same brand and same size battery, the total system cost can vary depending on what they still need to add:

A stacked row chart comparing home battery system cost components, depending on what the buyer has left to acquire.

Let’s see how each buyer’s battery system breaks down:

Buyer #1: You’re Installing Solar and a Battery at the Same Time

  • Only one inverter required (it’s called a hybrid inverter and handles solar + battery) – shared cost.
  • Installation is bundled (lower labour and wiring expenses).
  • Qualify for both solar and battery rebates in one go.
A pie chart breaking down the cost of a solar + battery system
Buyer #1 still has to buy solar, battery and hybrid inverter.

Buyer #2: You Already Have a Hybrid Inverter Installed

  • Plug a new battery into your existing inverter – no extra inverter cost.
  • Installation is quicker and cheaper (no inverter swapping).
  • Still eligible for federal and state/territory rebates.
A pie chart breaking down the cost of a battery being added to a solar system that already had a hybrid inverter
Buyer #2 only has to buy a battery. The installation is straightforward, as a hybrid inverter is already in place.

Buyer #3: You Have Solar, But Not a Hybrid Inverter

  • Must either replace your existing inverter with a hybrid model (~$3,000+) or buy a battery with a built-in inverter (e.g. Tesla Powerwall 3, Sigenstor, AlphaESS, GoodWe ESA)
  • Installation complexity (possible rewiring, switchboard changes) drives up costs.
  • Eligible for federal and state rebates but upfront spending is highest on this path.
A pie chart breaking down the cost of a battery being added to a system as well as a hybrid inverter.
Buyer #3 has to buy a battery and a hybrid inverter. Installation involves taking out the old solar inverter, which adds complexity.

Pro-Tip: You don’t need to charge your battery from solar panels. Charging from panels provides a savings advantage, but you can charge it from off-peak grid electricity instead. Or from a mix of solar and grid. You can now get super off-peak tariffs in WA and SA as low as 8c per kWh. You can even get plans that offer periods of free electricity during the day. However, your battery must be connected to solar to be eligible for the federal battery rebate.

Battery Payback: Can They Pay for Themselves?

A map of Australia showing home battery payback per state or territory in Australia.

The simple payback time for a home battery depends on where you live, how much electricity you use at night, and whether you qualify for one or more rebates. Thanks to federal and state rebates, payback times have improved dramatically.

If you live in SA, WA, QLD, or NSW, a decent battery can now pay for itself within its warranty period – especially if your overnight electricity consumption is above average. In VIC and ACT, higher electricity use can still make batteries worthwhile, while TAS and NT remain the hardest locations for getting a clear financial return.

For a more detailed analysis of payback periods per state, visit our battery payback page. If you are considering retrofitting a battery and want to know how long it’ll take to pay it off, our Add Battery calculator gives you a detailed payback estimate based on your smart meter data.

Pro-tip: Joining a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and shopping around for the best electricity tariff can help push payback periods even lower. And if you’re installing a battery alongside a new solar system (i.e. you are Buyer #1), your payback may be even faster due to shared installation costs and inverter savings.

How Much Will Battery Rebates Cover?

Depending on where you live and the size of the battery you install, you may be eligible for multiple incentives. Here’s what that looks like:

Federal Battery Rebate

  • 100% of the rebate for batteries up until 14 kWh
  • 60% of the rebate for every kWh between 14 and 28 kWh
  • 15% of the rebate for every kWh between 28 and 50 kWh
  • Decreases slightly each year until 2030.
  • Find out what that would amount to with our federal battery rebate calculator.
  • VPP-capable battery required, but no need to join a VPP

Western Australia Rebate

  • Synergy customers (southwest grid): $130 per kWh, up to $1,300
  • Horizon Power customers (regional WA): $380 per kWh, up to $3,800
  • Stackable with federal rebate
  • Must join one of WA’s VPPs

New South Wales (NSW VPP Incentive)

  • $40-$55 per usable kWh for joining a VPP
  • Up to 28 kWh (= approx. $1,540 VPP incentive)
  • Can be combined with the federal rebate

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

  • Zero-interest loan: $2,000 to $15,000 over up to 10 years
  • Additional rebates: Up to $5,000 for concession card holders
  • Helps reduce upfront cost, though not a direct price reduction

The federal battery rebate is stackable with state rebates. Most other states and territories (QLD, VIC, SA, TAS, NT) currently do not offer their own battery rebates or loans, but residents in these areas are still eligible for the full federal rebate if criteria are met. Here is a summary of what rebates you can stack in your state/territory:

State / TerritoryRebates Available?VPP OpportunitiesBattery Payback Potential?
Western Australia (WA)✅ State + Federal✅ Required for state rebate💲💲💲💲
South Australia (SA)✅ Federal✅ Available💲💲💲💲
Queensland (QLD)✅ Federal✅ Available💲💲💲
New South Wales (NSW)✅ Federal✅ Available (with state incentive)💲💲💲
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)✅ Federal + State (if concession card holder)✅ Available💲💲
Victoria (VIC)✅ Federal✅ Available💲💲
Tasmania (TAS)✅ Federal❌ None💲
Northern Territory (NT)
✅ Federal
❌ None💲

For a comprehensive breakdown of every available rebate, incentive, and loan scheme across all Australian states and territories, visit our complete battery rebate guide. To decide which VPP suits your needs, check out our VPP comparison table.

What Affects The Battery Price?

Battery Cost Factor #1: Battery Capacity

The energy storage capacity of a battery is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWhs). The higher the capacity, the more kWhs it stores, and the more the solar battery costs.

But there is an economy of scale – the more kWhs you buy, the cheaper the batteries become per kWh. Here are example costs per kWh:

Battery ModelCapacityApprox. Total
Installed Cost (incl. Federal Rebate)
Price per kWh
iStore10 kWh$10,800$1,080
iStore15 kWh$14,100$940
iStore30 kWh$26,500$880
Sungrow SBR12.8 kWh$8,800$690
Sungrow SBR16 kWh$10,000$620
Sungrow SBR25.6 kWh$14,000$550
SigenStor Single-Phase13 kWh$9,300$720
SigenStor Single-Phase15.6 kWh$9,800$630
SigenStor Single-Phase31.2 kWh$16,700$540
We assumed an installation cost of $3,000. Prices include the federal battery rebate, but not state or territory rebates.

You can see that buying a smaller 12.8 kWh Sungrow battery costs around $690 per kWh. This is because you only have 12.8 kWh to share the entire:

  • Battery controller cost
  • Battery inverter cost
  • Installation cost

Whereas if you buy a 25.6 kWh Sungrow battery, it only costs $550 per kWh. That’s because you only have one battery controller, battery inverter and installation shared amongst all those kWhs. In the case of the Sungrow, this is eight separate 3.2 kWh modules stacked on top of each other. So, the installation of additional modules is fast. Read more about all the benefits of modular batteries.

Sungrow modular energy storage
Midway through installing a Sungrow modular battery with 4 x 3.2 kWh modules. Want more storage? Drop another module on top. (Watch installation video).

Pro-Tip: Ensure you are quoted usable capacity, not nominal capacity. All kWh figures on this page are usable capacities, which is how much energy the battery can provide when new. Most major battery manufacturers give usable capacity, but many give the higher nominal capacity, so this is something to watch out for. All battery rebates are based on usable capacity.

Battery Cost Factor #2: Warranty

Cheaper batteries generally have shorter warranties. Don’t be fooled – the marketing may claim ‘10 years’ but look deeper, and they can be as short as 13 months if you discharge them ‘too much’.

A good, reasonably-priced battery will generally have a 10-year warranty that allows you to discharge its full usable capacity once per day, or close to it, for ten years with a guarantee of 70% capacity after ten years.

In practice, most home batteries discharge an average of less than their full usable capacity each day.  If you’re planning to discharge your battery more than this, you will normally be financially better off installing a larger battery.

What Affects the Battery Inverter Price?

All home batteries need a compatible inverter to charge, discharge, and play nice with the grid. Nowadays, most installers will quote a hybrid inverter for your battery. The inverter can be built into the battery appliance (e.g. Powerwall, SigenStor, AlphaESS, GoodWe) or separate from it (e.g. BYD, Sungrow, iStore).

The inverter’s capabilities directly affect the price of the battery system in 3 ways:

#1 Single- or Three-Phase?

If you want an energy storage solution that charges and discharges across all the phases of a three-phase supply – then your battery inverter must be a three-phase inverter. These cost more than single-phase,

Examples:

  • Sungrow 10 kW single-phase hybrid inverter: $3,600
  • Sungrow 10 kW three-phase hybrid inverter: $4,500
A single-phase Sungrow hybrid inverter vs. a three-phase Sungrow hybrid inverter
In a Sungrow system with 10kW of power, you’ll pay $900 more for the inverter if you want 3-phase, and at least $500 more for the installation.

Pro-Tip: Save on the cost: If you have a 3-phase home, you don’t need a 3-phase battery system. Single phase works fine for most people.

#2 Inverter Power

When pricing a battery, the main factor is its capacity – how much electricity it can store in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

But another specification that affects price is the battery inverter’s power. The input power limits how fast the battery can charge. The output power limits how quickly it can discharge and how much they can back up.

Examples:

  • Sungrow 5 kW hybrid inverter: $2,300
  • Sungrow 10 kW hybrid inverter: $3,600

The 10 kW inverter can charge and discharge a compatible battery twice as fast for an extra $1,300 and also supports a larger solar system.

Nerd Fact: The difference between energy and power – as it relates to solar batteries: Energy (kWh) is how much electricity is stored for later use. The battery’s power (kW) is how quickly it can charge or discharge that energy. Think of energy as ‘amount of electricity’ and power as ‘speed of electricity’.

#3 Buying solar + batteries + hybrid inverter together

If you are Buyer #1 (i.e. buying solar and batteries at the same time), using a hybrid inverter can reduce your total cost because your solar and battery share one inverter. The savings can be around $1,000 compared to retrofitting energy storage to existing solar.

What Affects Battery Installation Cost?

SolarEdge battery installation
From the SolarQuotes video: Installing a SolarEdge battery.

We usually assume $3,000 for a good-quality, straightforward installation:

  • the battery is installed next to the switchboard
  • no protection bollards required
  • only two backup circuits
  • no switchboard upgrades
  • no fire-resistant backing required.

However, the total installation cost can have other contributing factors:

Installation Cost Factor #1: Backup

Most Australians expect backup with their solar battery system. Backup adds to the hardware and installation cost. The backup function is either built into the battery inverter or a separate ‘backup box’.

Some general rules around the price of solar battery backup.

  • The more you want to backup, the more it will cost. Backing up lights, refrigeration and a handful of power points requires a smaller battery than one that can back up a whole house.
  • If you have loads with high startup currents on your backup circuits – which can be anything with an electric motor in it such as a refrigerator or air conditioner – it can require expensive high-powered battery inverters such as Selectronic or the one built into a Powerwall 3.
  • Backup that can use the solar panels during a blackout to top up your batteries usually costs more than backup that disables your solar power system during a blackout.
  • Adding an ‘override’ switch will add about $200 to the price but is worth it if it allows you to still power your house in case of a battery system failure. Ask your installer if this is required for their proposed system – as many installers forget to include one.

Installation Cost Factor #2: Battery Location

Distance from switchboard

Australian Standards mandate where your battery can be located. It is stringent, so you may not have many options. If you can’t or don’t want to install it (including associated electronics) next to your switchboard, your installers will need to run many metres of cables. This can add $1,000 or more to the installation as it can take at least two people and many hours to get a cable across your house.

The following things can also add to your installation cost:

Bollards

If your battery is to go on your garage floor, it will likely need at least one bollard to protect it from errant drivers – like your husband 🤣.

You can save the cost of bollards by mounting it high up the wall where no-one can drive into it.

Safety bollard in front of a Tesla Powerwall 3 installed by Goliath Solar in South Australia with yellow bollards.
Install Credit: Goliath Solar and Electrical

You can expand Tesla’s Powerwall 3 in two ways:

The Tesla Powerwall 3 can expand both horizontally and vertically.
Image credit: Tesla

Remember that stacked expansion means it sticks out further from the wall. If you plan to expand this way, make sure to leave space between the battery and bollards. Alternatively, you can leave space on the side for wall-mounted expansion.

Weather protection

If your battery is installed outside, it should be protected from direct sunlight.

Solar battery covered by a sun shade
A sun shade for two SolarEdge batteries. Install Credit: MPV Solar

Fire-rated backing

If your battery is mounted on a wall with a habitable room behind, it must have a fire-rated back sheet behind it, adding to the price.

Fire-rate backsheet
Because the other side of this wall is a habitable room, the battery requires a fire-resistant backing extending 600mm to the sides and the top. Install Credit: Lightning Solar

Financing Your Battery Purchase

Cash

Using cash in the bank to buy your battery is not cost-free. You pay an opportunity cost on the missed investment earnings, whether that’s interest or other investment income.

Battery Loans

If you get a regular loan for your battery, your loan provider must itemise the cost of that loan to you. You will pay interest, account-keeping fees and set-up fees.

0% Finance

Be careful of 0% finance. The name implies that it is a cheap or even no-cost loan. That is mostly not true. In our opinion, most 0% finance mobs are full of crap because that ‘0% loan’ is only possible by charging the solar retailer a huge premium – typically 25%. That means a $10,000 battery could have $2,500 of ‘merchant fees’ on top. The finance vendors claim they don’t add to your price, but I hope you can see that for what it is.

Learn more about how Buy Now, Pay Later works, and why new regulations aim to protect solar buyers from getting stung.

Having said that – I know of one 0% finance offer that appears genuine:

Government Battery Loans

Governments sometimes support the purchase of solar batteries by subsidising the cost of financing them. This means you can apply for low or genuine 0% interest loans to pay for some or all of your system.

ACT currently offer 3% loans to eligible households. WA offers zero-interest loans for batteries as part of its WA battery rebate.

Wrapping Up: Solar Battery Prices in Australia

Yes, home batteries are finally worth it for many Australians, especially in states with high electricity prices, good sun, and generous rebates. Thanks to falling prices and the federal battery rebate, thousands of households can now expect payback within the warranty period, particularly if they use a lot of power at night or join a Virtual Power Plant. In summary:

  • Price Range: Popular solar batteries have an installed cost between $4,000 and $13,000+ including the federal rebate.
  • Economy of Scale: Bigger batteries offer a lower cost per kWh.
  • Total Cost: The price tag includes the battery, inverter, and installation cost. Finance options can add more.
  • Warranty: Really cheap batteries often have awful warranties. Look for a 10-year warranty that will actually last 10 years in use or close to it – small print matters.
  • Installation: Distance from the switchboard, 3-phase and backup capabilities can add to the cost.
  • Financing: Be wary of hidden costs in 0% finance offers. Government loans offer genuine 0% interest.

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