Electricity bills in New South Wales keep going up. Many people have added solar panels to their homes to save money. Solar helps a lot during the day. But when the sun goes down, the savings stop.
That’s when most people use the most power. This is where solar batteries come in. They can store your extra solar energy from the day. Then you can use that energy at night or during a blackout. But batteries cost a lot. So, the big question is, are they worth it?
PSC Energy is helping more families say yes to solar batteries. With help from both the federal and state governments, solar batteries are now more affordable. Whether they’re right for you is why we’re here today.
In this article, you’ll learn about the following:
- What Does a Solar Battery Do?
- How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost in NSW, Australia?
- How 2025 Solar Battery Rebates Make Energy Storage Cheaper
- Solar Battery Payback Time: How Long Until It Pays Off?
- When Is a Solar Battery a Good Fit?
- PSC’s Solar Battery Lineup: Which One Fits Best?
- Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Solar Battery?
By the end of this guide, you’ll know how solar batteries work, what they cost, how the rebates help, and how much you could save. It also explains who should get a battery and who might want to wait.
What Does a Solar Battery Do?
Solar panels make electricity from the sun. Your home uses that electricity first. Any leftover power gets sent back to the grid.
When you send power to the grid, your electricity provider gives you a small payment. This is called a feed-in tariff. But the payment is very small. You might only get six or seven cents for each kilowatt-hour you send back.
A solar battery gives you another choice. Instead of sending that extra power away, you can store it. Then you can use your stored solar power at night when your panels stop working.
That’s when most homes use the most power. Families cook dinner, run the dishwasher, watch TV, and turn on lights. With a battery, you use your own stored energy instead of buying expensive electricity from the grid.
Some batteries also provide backup power during blackouts. They can keep a few things running, like your lights, fridge, and internet. This can be very helpful if you work from home or have essential devices, like medical equipment, that always need power.
A battery gives you more control. You decide when and how to use your solar power. You use more of the energy you make. You avoid high evening rates. And you stay powered during blackouts.
If you’re interested in learning more about solar systems, you might want to check out our introductory article titled, New to Solar: Start Here.
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How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost in NSW, Australia?
The cost of a solar battery varies, sometimes wildly. The price depends on the size and brand of the battery.
Smaller homes may only need a 10 kilowatt-hour battery. Bigger homes may want a 13.5kWh battery or more. The more storage you want, the higher the cost.
Most batteries last about 10 to 15 years. They come with warranties that match this. Some last longer with good care.
In 2025, PSC offers three battery brands. The value of the rebate has already been deducted to show the new price:
Tesla Powerwall 3 has 13.5 kilowatt-hours of storage. It includes a hybrid inverter built in. It gives you backup power and substantial savings. It starts at $9,990 for retrofits and starts at $15,750 when installed with new solar. It was at $14,500 and $19,800, respectively.
Enphase IQ Battery 5P has 5kWh of storage per unit. You can stack more together. Many customers install two at a time to get 10kWh total. These batteries work best with Enphase microinverter systems. They offer excellent safety and come with a 15-year warranty. The cost per battery is $9,800 for two of them. Previously, it cost $14,990 for two batteries.
SigenStor by Sigenergy starts at 8kWh and stacks up from there. They are modular batteries that stack like Lego building blocks. It has full three-phase backup and AI-enhanced software. The starting price is $6,990 for retrofit or starting at $11,500 for a complete energy system (single-phase). It was $9,990 for a retrofit and $13,850 for the single-phase energy system.
As you can see, the rebate makes a huge difference in cost. The value for purchasing a solar battery has never been better.
If you’d like to learn a bit more about SigenStor, a solar battery we carry, we recommend you check out the following article titled, Sigenergy SigenStor Review.
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How 2025 Solar Battery Rebates Make Energy Storage Cheaper
In 2025, two main rebate programs help lower the cost of solar batteries in NSW.
The first is Australia’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, also known as the federal battery rebate. This rebate comes from the federal government. It was introduced to help more households afford battery storage and to reduce pressure on the power grid.
The rebate applies to new batteries installed on or after July 1, 2025. It can be used for batteries installed with new solar systems or added to existing solar setups.
To qualify, the battery must meet specific size and safety requirements. The rebate is applied as an upfront discount, which means you pay less when you buy the system.
You only get one chance to claim it, so your battery system must be sized carefully from the beginning.
The second rebate is the NSW state rebate, part of the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, also known as the PDRS. This program rewards homeowners who install batteries that can help the electricity grid during peak demand times.
For example, if you use stored battery energy instead of grid electricity during busy hours, or if your battery can send power back to the grid, the system helps reduce stress on the network. The state rebate is also given as an upfront discount.
Both rebates are designed to make solar battery systems more accessible and affordable. They lower the total cost and help shorten the time it takes for the battery to pay for itself through energy savings.
By using both programs, many homeowners in NSW can save thousands of dollars on their battery purchase.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the NSW solar battery rebate, you might want to check out the following article titled, Everything You Need to Know About the Home Battery Rebate for NSW.
Ready to go solar? Click here.
Solar Battery Payback Time: How Long Until It Pays Off?
The payback period is the time it takes for the battery to cover its cost through savings on electricity bills. This depends on a few key things.
It depends on:
- How much electricity do you use?
- When do you use it?
- How much power can your battery store and deliver each day?
If you use a lot of power in the evening, after the sun sets, your battery will work hard every night. Each time it saves you from buying electricity from the grid, it contributes to paying itself off. Homes with this kind of usage often see fast returns.
If your home uses most of its power during the day while the sun is out, your solar panels are already doing the heavy lifting. In that case, the battery may not get used as often. That means it will take longer for the savings to add up.
The electricity plan you have also plays a big part. Some plans charge more for electricity during peak times, like in the evening. These are called time-of-use plans. If your battery helps you avoid using expensive electricity during those times, your savings grow faster.
Rebates can shorten the payback period a lot. They bring down the cost from the start. That means your battery has less to earn back before you hit that break-even point.
A well-matched system with steady usage and good charging patterns can make the most of every sunny day and help you start saving sooner.
If you’d like to learn more about Tesla products, we recommend you check out the following article titled, Tesla Powerwall 3 Review: An In-Depth Look at Tesla’s New Solar Battery.
Get started with solar. Click here.
When Is a Solar Battery a Good Fit?
Not every home will get the same value from a battery. It depends on how your household uses energy, your budget, and your priorities. Some homes are a perfect fit, while others may not need one yet.
A battery is often a good fit if:
You use a lot of electricity at night. That is when your solar panels have stopped working and you rely more on the grid.
A battery allows you to use the extra solar power you harvested earlier in the day. This helps you avoid high evening rates and cuts down your bills.
You may also be a good fit for a battery if you live in an area where blackouts happen often. A battery with backup capability can keep the lights on, your fridge running, and your devices charged when the grid goes down. This peace of mind is valuable.
Time-of-use plans are another reason to consider a battery. These plans charge more for electricity at certain times.
If your home is on one of these plans, your battery can help you shift your energy use to cheaper times or avoid using the grid during expensive hours. That can make your savings grow faster.
Some people get a battery because they want more control. They want to rely less on electricity retailers and more on the energy they make themselves. With a battery, you can use more of your power and become more independent.
A battery might also be right for you if you plan for the future. Maybe your power needs are growing. You might be working from home, getting an electric vehicle, or adding new appliances. A battery can help you manage those needs and reduce long-term costs.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about IQ Batteries, you might want to check out the following article titled, Enphase IQ Battery 5P Review.
Let’s go solar today. Click here.
PSC’s Solar Battery Lineup: Which One Fits Best?
At PSC, we offer three battery systems. Each fits a different type of home and customer need.
Powerwall 3
Powerwall 3 is Tesla’s latest model. It stores 13.5kWh of energy and includes a solar inverter. That means it can work as your entire solar system when installed with panels. It supports fast charging and strong blackout protection. This is an excellent option if you want a battery and solar in one package.
Enphase IQ Battery 5P
IQ batteries are modular. Each unit stores 5kWh. Most people start with two. These are an excellent match for Enphase microinverter solar systems. They have no single point of failure and come with a 15-year warranty.
Sigenergy SigenStor
SigenStor from Sigenergy is our newest option. It starts at 8kWh and goes up to 48kWh in one stack. It has true three-phase backup, making it perfect for homes with high loads or electric vehicles. It’s also the cheapest battery we sell.
Each battery has different features, sizes, and pricing. But all three qualify for both the federal and NSW rebates. And all three can reduce your bills and increase your energy independence.
If you’re interested in learning more about how a microinverter system performs compared to Powerwall 3, you might want to check out the following article titled, Enphase Microinverters vs. Tesla Powerwall 3: Which Solar Panel System is Right for You?
Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Solar Battery?
In 2025, this is the best time we have seen to buy a battery. Prices have dropped. Rebates are big. Power prices are going up. And systems are more intelligent and more powerful than ever.
If you already have solar, adding a battery makes sense if you use more power at night. If you are buying a complete solar and battery system, you can lower your bills even more.
The federal battery rebate starts July 1. To qualify, your battery must be turned on after that date. But you can install before then.
At PSC, we are already booking installs now. We will commission systems after July 1, so you still qualify.
Wait too long, and you might wait months for an available install.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the VPP portion of the battery rebate, you might want to check out the following article titled, NSW Battery VPP Rebate Explained: What You Need to Know.
Final Thoughts on Solar Batteries
Batteries are not cheap. But they are more affordable than ever before. And with the right setup, they can be a great investment.
If you use power at night, want to cut your bills, and like energy independence, a battery is worth a look. And with the new rebates, the numbers now make a lot more sense.
At PSC Energy, we help families get the right solar and battery systems for their homes. We install Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ, and SigenStor batteries every week. We know the rebate rules. We handle the setup. We stand by our systems. And we are here to help. No pressure. Just honest answers and support when you need it.
Because when the sun sets, your power should still be yours.
If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the federal solar rebate, also known as the Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, you might want to check out the following article titled, What the 2025 Federal Election and the Government Rebate Means for Solar Batteries in Australia.
