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Get Set Up to Generate STCs.
Get your business set up with Ecovantage and be ready to create STCs for battery installations from 1 July 2025.
Home Battery Incentive.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is an Australian Government program designed to help Australian households and small businesses maximise the energy generated through their rooftop solar, through a discount on the cost of installing battery systems.
The program’s regulations are currently being written by the DCCEEW, and will commence from 1 July 2025. The information on this page reflects the what has been released to date and is subject to change before July 1.
Discounts through Incentives.
This new incentive will be administered under the existing Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), utilising Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). While the DCCEEW has announced that the policy will allow for dual creation with state-based certificates, such as VEECs, REPS and ESCs. it is yet to be determined if the state-based policies will be amended to allow for dual creation.
To generate STCs to pass on to your customers, an AP/ACP such as Ecovantage is required to verify the installation, create the certificates and monetise them.
How Much Will the Federal Solar Battery Rebate be?
The Federal program will provide around a 30% discount on the upfront cost of installing an eligible battery system, based on the battery’s usable capacity. The amount will gradually decrease until 2030, under the SRES.
The numbers of STCs the system is eligible for is reflective of the kilowatt-hours of usable capacity in the battery system.
STCs are only available for the first 50 kWh. The discount rate in 2025 would be 9.3 STCs per kWh, equivalent to around $372 per kWh (subject to certificate generation fees and STC market prices).
The number of STCs will decline for systems installed in 2026, and each year until the SRES ends in 2030.
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| Year | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
| Estimated value per kWh | $372 | $336 | $296 | $260 | $224 | $188 |
| STC per kWh | 9.3 | 8.4 | 7.4 | 6.5 | 5.6 | 4.7 |
| Example: Enphase IQ 4.96 kWh usable capacity |
$1,848 | $1,662 | $1,464 | $1,286 | $1,108 | $930 |
Certificates Features.
Proposed Eligibility Criteria.
Eligibility is still subject to the final program regulations, and requirements may change before July 1. The proposed eligibility for the program includes:
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The battery must be included on the CEC approved battery list. |
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A single solar system with a total nominal capacity of 5 kWh to 100 kWh. The nominal / usable capacity is the maximum amount of energy that can be stored at full charge. |
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The battery’s usable capability is used to calculate the STC volume, and can be claimed for the first 50 kWh of usable capacity. |
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The battery needs to be installed with a new or existing solar PV system. |
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The system is considered ‘installed’ when a certificate of electrical compliance (or equivalent) is signed, confirming it complies with the relevant electrical safety regulations. |
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The program is intended for residential small-scale battery systems – electric vehicles are not considered eligible batteries for this program. |
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An eligible battery system could include a single battery unit or a system of modular battery cells connected to serve as one battery unit. |
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Additional capacity added to an existing battery system could be eligible if it has not previously received a discount under the program, and the additional capacity is at least 5 kWh and the total upgraded capacity does not exceed 100 kWh. |
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Battery systems supported under the program can be installed either on or off-grid. On-grid systems need to be capable of being connected to a VPP, but does not need to be connected. |
Source: DCCEEW
Australia’s Most Versatile ACP.
Ecovantage specialises in creating, trading, and supplying all energy certificates, including STCs. We assist you in balancing the financial and environmental scales for each project.
Ecovantage provides an end-to-end service, from site audits and project management, through to generation and monetisation of the created certificates.
The treatment of certificates is based on the financial and carbon goals of each organisation. The options available are presented with their relevant outcomes on both fronts, to ensure your decision is an informed one. Ecovantage generates and trades certificates as an authorised provider through the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
BESS 1 & 2 Questions, Answered.
Everything you need to know about the NSW PDRS battery incentives, in one place.
NSW Battery IncentivesBattery Retailers & Installers.
To be ready for July 1, battery installers, designers, and retailers should:
- Ensure you are accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia
- Check you’re installing approved battery systems and components, according to the CEC approved product list
- Check your installations comply with relevant state and territory electrical safety requirements.
Important.
If installing a solar battery system before 1 July, make sure it is tested as capable of storing or discharging energy on or after 1 July 2025, as shown on the state/territory certificate of electrical compliance.
If a solar battery is tested and certified before 1 July 2025, it won’t be eligible for STCs.
Further evidence of the ‘installed date’ is yet to be released by the Department.
Certificates Available Under this Scheme.
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) are a tradeable certificate in Australia’s renewable energy market. They are part of the federal government’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme, which aims to promote the uptake of renewable energy sources.
1 STC represents 1 MWh of calculated energy either generated by a renewable energy source, or displaced by the installed system, which is the case for batteries.
The quantity of STCs is calculated based on the location of the system, the electricity generated or displaced, and the years left in the scheme until it ends in 2030.
At Ecovantage, we consistently analyse market activity, creation metrics, policy changes, and consultation releases in conjunction with wider landscape activity. Below is the weekly price tracking of STC prices.
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