Article supplied by Solar Battery Group
As Solar Battery Group celebrates 10 years in business, the milestone lands at a significant turning point for Australia’s battery sector. Few businesses have had a clearer front-row seat to the category’s evolution or been uniquely positioned to experience the rollout of the federal government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program commenced on 1 July 2025 and quickly accelerated demand by offering a rebate on eligible small-scale battery systems connected to new or existing rooftop solar. By early 2026, the program had already seen very strong adoption, with over 284,000 installations reported nationwide by the Clean Energy Regulator. The rapid uptake has been good for battery adoption, but it has also tested the industry’s ability to size and deliver systems safely at scale.
That is why the 1 May 2026 changes matter. From today, the program changes in two important ways. The Small-scale Technology Certificates (STC) factor now declines every six months and at a higher rate. At the same time, support is now tiered by usable battery size: the first 14 kWh receives the full STC factor, capacity above 14 kWh (kilowatt-hours) and up to 28 kWh receives 60 per cent, and capacity above 28 kWh and up to 50 kWh receives 15 per cent. The government says those changes are designed to keep support at around 30 per cent for a range of battery sizes while aligning the program with falling battery costs over time.
In practical terms, that pushes the market towards more intentional system design. Under a flatter rebate structure, it’s easier for bigger battery recommendations to look attractive on paper. Under the new model, fit-for-purpose sizing is now more clearly rewarded. Retailers and installers now have stronger incentives to match the battery to the household’s actual needs, usage patterns, tariff structure and future electrification plans, rather than leaning on a bigger-is-better sales story.
While this is healthier for the category, it signals a broader market shift. In the early phase of battery adoption, the main question was how to get more households interested in storage. Today, the more important question is whether retailers and installers can help customers make better decisions under a more nuanced rebate structure
For Solar Battery Group, that is where 10 years of market experience becomes relevant. A decade in batteries means having seen the industry before rebates, through the launch of the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, and now into a phase where quality of design and quality of advice matter more than ever. The next chapter for battery storage will not be defined by hype alone. It will be defined by how well the industry adapts to a market that increasingly rewards precision, accountability and long-term thinking.
In that sense, 1 May 2026 may prove to be more than a policy change date. It could be the point at which Australia’s battery market started behaving a little more like mature energy infrastructure, and a little less like a rush for volume.
To learn more, visit the Solar Battery Group website or explore the company’s podcast series on YouTube.
