Australia had 546,789 home batteries installed under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program between 1 July 2025 and 30 September 2026, with 15.29 GWh of usable capacity, according to Clean Energy Regulator (CER) postcode data updated on 20 October 2026. The average battery is 28.0 kWh. Monthly installs peaked at 87,128 in April 2026, just before the discount rules changed on 1 May 2026.
This page collects the verified numbers, shows each as a chart and table, and explains what they mean for a household weighing up a battery. Every figure carries its own dataset date.
Key facts
- The Clean Energy Regulator recorded 546,789 solar battery systems installed from 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2026, with 15,287,746 kWh of usable capacity.
- NSW leads with 187,241 batteries, ahead of Queensland (110,567), Victoria (109,979), WA (61,210) and South Australia (60,459), as at 30 September 2026.
- April 2026 was the record month with 87,128 installations at an average of 36.8 kWh, a Solar Cobber calculation from CER data.
- The average installed battery fell from 36.8 kWh in April 2026 to 21.9 kWh in May 2026, after tiered certificates started on 1 May 2026.
- For batteries installed from 1 May to 31 December 2026, the federal discount is 6.8 certificates per usable kWh on the first 14 kWh, worth about A$272 per kWh at A$40 per certificate.
- Solar Choice’s Battery Price Index (updated 6 November 2026) puts a 10 kWh battery at an average A$7,384 installed, after the federal discount and including GST.
How many home batteries are installed in Australia?
As at 30 September 2026, the CER counts 546,789 batteries installed since the program began on 1 July 2025. That is equal to 12.0 installed batteries for every 100 small-scale solar systems ever installed (4,562,198, a Solar Cobber calculation).
The CER caveat matters: installers have 12 months to create certificates, so recent months are incomplete and will rise. The July to September 2026 figures below are therefore floors, not final counts.
View the data as a table
| Batteries installed | |
|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 29,523 |
| Aug 25 | 25,804 |
| Sep 25 | 31,137 |
| Oct 25 | 36,732 |
| Nov 25 | 38,714 |
| Dec 25 | 45,398 |
| Jan 26 | 28,606 |
| Feb 26 | 40,809 |
| Mar 26 | 55,342 |
| Apr 26 | 87,128 |
| May 26 | 23,679 |
| Jun 26 | 29,795 |
| Jul 26 | 31,769 |
| Aug 26 | 27,498 |
| Sep 26 | 14,855 |
Monthly battery installs climbed from about 29,500 in July 2025 to 87,128 in April 2026, then fell to 23,679 in May 2026.
| Period | Batteries installed | Usable capacity (kWh) | Average size (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2025 | 207,308 | 5,013,821 | 24.2 |
| 1 Jan to 30 Sep 2026 | 339,481 | 10,273,924 | 30.3 |
| First 12 months to 30 Jun 2026 | 472,667 | 13,414,144 | 28.4 |
| All, to 30 Sep 2026 | 546,789 | 15,287,746 | 28.0 |
Table: CER installation and usable capacity files to 30 September 2026. Averages and period sums are a Solar Cobber calculation.
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) cuts its data at a different date and reports 457,439 installations and 12.9 GWh in the first twelve months. Do not mix CER and CEC figures in one sum.
What is the average home battery size in Australia?
The average battery installed under the program is 28.0 kWh of usable capacity, but it has moved sharply: 17.5 kWh in July 2025, 36.8 kWh in April 2026 and 21.9 kWh in May 2026.
View the data as a table
| Average size | |
|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 17.5 kWh |
| Aug 25 | 19.4 kWh |
| Sep 25 | 22.2 kWh |
| Oct 25 | 24.4 kWh |
| Nov 25 | 26.6 kWh |
| Dec 25 | 30.4 kWh |
| Jan 26 | 29.3 kWh |
| Feb 26 | 31.0 kWh |
| Mar 26 | 33.5 kWh |
| Apr 26 | 36.8 kWh |
| May 26 | 21.9 kWh |
| Jun 26 | 24.2 kWh |
| Jul 26 | 24.8 kWh |
| Aug 26 | 25.5 kWh |
| Sep 26 | 26.0 kWh |
Average battery size rose for nine months as households bought larger units to capture more discount, then dropped by about 15 kWh after tiered rates began.
The cause is the rule change. Until 30 April 2026 every kWh up to 50 kWh earned the same certificates, so big batteries were rewarded. From 1 May 2026 the rate steps down by tier, as the table shows.
| Usable capacity band | Share of the certificate factor applied (from 1 May 2026) |
|---|---|
| Up to and including 14 kWh | 100% |
| Above 14 kWh up to 28 kWh | 60% |
| Above 28 kWh up to 50 kWh | 15% |
| Above 50 kWh | No certificates |
Table: Renewable Energy Legislation (2026 Measures No. 1) Amendment Regulations 2026 explanatory statement (F2026L00093), registered 9 February 2026.
The CER reports that retrofits onto existing solar were 55% of April installs and about 42% across May and June.
How many home batteries are installed in each state?
New South Wales has the most batteries (187,241), but South Australia and the ACT have more batteries per new solar system than most larger states.
| State | Batteries, 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2025 | Batteries, 1 Jan to 30 Sep 2026 | Total to 30 Sep 2026 | Batteries per 100 new solar systems, Jan to Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 70,293 | 116,948 | 187,241 | 167 |
| Queensland | 38,498 | 72,069 | 110,567 | 107 |
| Victoria | 43,472 | 66,507 | 109,979 | 138 |
| Western Australia | 22,786 | 38,424 | 61,210 | 124 |
| South Australia | 25,452 | 35,007 | 60,459 | 158 |
| ACT | 3,877 | 6,407 | 10,284 | 164 |
| Tasmania | 2,286 | 3,390 | 5,676 | 85 |
| Northern Territory | 644 | 729 | 1,373 | 88 |
| Australia | 207,308 | 339,481 | 546,789 | 137 |
Table: CER Table 8 and Table 5, data to 30 September 2026. Last column is a Solar Cobber calculation.
Solar Cobber calculation: batteries installed from 1 January to 30 September 2026 divided by solar systems installed in the same months (for example NSW 116,948 / 69,830 = 1.67). This is a ratio, not an attachment rate, because many batteries are retrofitted to older solar systems, and both counts are still rising with the CER lag.
Source: Clean Energy Regulator postcode data to 30 September 2026; Solar Cobber calculation.
View the data as a table
| Batteries per 100 solar installs | |
|---|---|
| NSW | 167 |
| ACT | 164 |
| South Australia | 158 |
| Victoria | 138 |
| Western Australia | 124 |
| Queensland | 107 |
| Northern Territory | 88 |
| Tasmania | 85 |
NSW installed 167 batteries for every 100 new solar systems in 2026, while Tasmania and the Northern Territory installed fewer than 90.
State schemes differ; see home battery rebates by state and the state pages such as NSW, South Australia and Victoria.
What did the 2026 rule changes do to installations?
Installations spiked ahead of 1 May 2026 and then dropped by roughly three quarters. April 2026 recorded 87,128 installs; May recorded 23,679, a fall of 73%, a Solar Cobber calculation from CER data.
In December 2025 the CER announced that program funding was expanded from A$2.3 billion to an estimated A$7.2 billion over four years, with tiered certificates from 1 May 2026 aimed at holding the discount near 30% across sizes. The CER’s June quarter 2026 report calls Q2 2026 a record quarter, with more than 111,000 approved batteries and 3.6 GWh. Installs did recover somewhat: June 2026 was 29,795 and July 2026 is already 31,769 with the lag still to come.
The discount per kWh also falls on a schedule. The certificate factor is the number of certificates earned per usable kWh in the first 14 kWh.
Source: Renewable Energy Legislation (2026 Measures No. 1) Amendment Regulations 2026 explanatory statement (F2026L00093); 5.2 cross-checked to SolarQuotes, 2026. The schedule continues to 2030; later steps are not charted here.
View the data as a table
| Certificates per kWh | |
|---|---|
| Jul-Dec 25 | 9.3 |
| Jan-Apr 26 | 8.4 |
| May-Dec 26 | 6.8 |
| Jan-Jun 27 | 5.7 |
| Jul-Dec 27 | 5.2 |
| Jan-Jun 28 | 4.6 |
The certificate factor falls from 9.3 in the second half of 2025 to 4.6 in the first half of 2028, so waiting costs money.
The video above is an independent explainer by Neerav Bhatt of Electrifying Everything on the May 2026 changes.
How much is the federal battery discount worth in November 2026?
For a battery installed in November 2026, the discount is about A$2,720 for 10 kWh and A$4,760 for 20 kWh, assuming A$40 per certificate and that the installer passes it on in full.
| Usable kWh | Certificates, Nov 2026 | Discount at A$40 | Certificates, Jan 2027 | Discount at A$40 | Lost by waiting to January |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 34 | A$1,360 | 28 | A$1,120 | A$240 |
| 10 | 68 | A$2,720 | 57 | A$2,280 | A$440 |
| 13.5 | 91 | A$3,640 | 76 | A$3,040 | A$600 |
| 20 | 119 | A$4,760 | 100 | A$4,000 | A$760 |
| 30 | 154 | A$6,160 | 129 | A$5,160 | A$1,000 |
| 50 | 174 | A$6,960 | 146 | A$5,840 | A$1,120 |
Table: Solar Cobber calculation. Certificates are the first 14 kWh at 100%, the next 14 kWh at 60% and the next 22 kWh at 15%, multiplied by the factor (6.8 for 1 May to 31 December 2026, 5.7 for 1 January to 30 June 2027) and rounded down. STC price A$40, the Clean Energy Regulator clearing house price; spot traded at A$39.85 to A$39.90 in October 2026 (Demand Manager).
- Installed Nov 2026
- Installed Jan 2027
Source: Solar Cobber calculation from the F2026L00093 explanatory statement tier and factor rules.
View the data as a table
| Installed Nov 2026 | Installed Jan 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kWh | A$1,360 | A$1,120 |
| 10 kWh | A$2,720 | A$2,280 |
| 13.5 kWh | A$3,640 | A$3,040 |
| 20 kWh | A$4,760 | A$4,000 |
| 30 kWh | A$6,160 | A$5,160 |
| 50 kWh | A$6,960 | A$5,840 |
A 20 kWh battery loses about A$760 of discount if installed in January 2027 rather than before the end of 2026.
Note that the discount is not a fixed share of the price: batteries above 14 kWh get a lower rate per kWh. See our full guide to the battery rebate and the state-by-state rebate comparison.
How much does a home battery cost in Australia?
Solar Choice’s Battery Price Index, updated 6 November 2026, shows the average installed price after the federal discount falling per kWh as batteries get larger, from A$738 per kWh at 10 kWh to A$690 per kWh at 30 kWh.
| Usable capacity | Average installed cost after discount | Per kWh before discount | Per kWh after discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | A$7,384 | A$990 | A$738 |
| 20 kWh | A$14,172 | A$930 | A$709 |
| 30 kWh | A$20,689 | A$880 | A$690 |
| 40 kWh | A$27,911 | A$850 | A$698 |
| 50 kWh | A$35,534 | A$840 | A$711 |
Table: Solar Choice Battery Price Index, battery only (for homes with a hybrid or battery-ready system), prices include installation, GST and the federal battery discount, updated 6 November 2026.
- Before discount
- After discount
Source: Solar Choice Battery Price Index, updated 6 November 2026.
View the data as a table
| Before discount | After discount | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 kWh | A$990 | A$738 |
| 20 kWh | A$930 | A$709 |
| 30 kWh | A$880 | A$690 |
| 40 kWh | A$850 | A$698 |
| 50 kWh | A$840 | A$711 |
The federal discount takes about A$250 off each kWh at 10 kWh but only about A$130 off each kWh at 50 kWh, because larger batteries earn fewer certificates per kWh.
A battery plus an extra inverter (to connect to existing solar) costs more: A$7,984 for 10 kWh and A$15,172 for 20 kWh after the discount. Solar Choice publishes only the current index on this page, so we cannot show a price history for earlier years. For model-level prices see our 10 kWh battery and 20 kWh battery price guides and how much a solar battery costs.
Are home batteries safe? What the recall data shows
The ACCC has published recall notices for five home battery products since 2021, but national fire statistics for home batteries do not exist.
| Recall | Published | Hazard stated by the ACCC |
|---|---|---|
| LG ESS Home Batteries, Tranche 1 | 25 February 2021 | May overheat and catch fire |
| SolaX Power (LG S/A Gen2 batteries) | 30 March 2022 | May overheat and catch fire |
| LG ESS Home Batteries, Tranche 2 | 29 September 2023 | May overheat and catch fire |
| Tesla Powerwall 2 | 16 September 2025 | Third-party cells may fail and overheat |
| Sigenergy SigenStor energy controllers (AC plugs) | 19 November 2025 | Plugs may overheat; no injuries reported |
Table: ACCC Product Safety Australia recall notices, checked 14 November 2026.
The ACCC said in 2023 that “there is a lack of Li-ion battery fire related data available at a national level”, and we found no 2025 or 2026 fire service count for home batteries, so we do not calculate an incident rate. The ACCC’s latest LG figure, from May 2024, was around 18,000 affected batteries with about 4,400 still to be located. See are solar batteries safe and LFP batteries explained.
What these statistics mean for your battery decision
Installation numbers show that most new Australian batteries are large, bought with solar, and paid for partly by the federal discount. Three things follow for a household.
- Timing: the discount per kWh drops on 1 January 2027, so a battery installed in December 2026 earns about 16% more certificates than the same battery in January 2027.
- Size: the tiers reward batteries up to 14 kWh most, so check whether the extra kWh above 14 is worth its price. Use what size battery do I need.
- Value: the discount does not guarantee a payback. Read are solar batteries worth it, and see virtual power plants for extra income.
For solar counts and system sizes, see solar statistics in Australia. To compare installers, browse all listed installers, the battery reviews and the top 10 solar installers.
Method and sources
All installation counts come from the Clean Energy Regulator’s small-scale installation postcode data, page updated 20 October 2026, data current as at 30 September 2026. Monthly and state sums, averages, ratios and discount amounts are Solar Cobber calculations, labelled where used. The CER warns that figures for the current and previous year continue to rise because of the 12-month certificate creation period, so 2025 and 2026 counts are “so far”. The CER’s own commentary in its June quarter 2026 report (78,000 April installations at its cut-off) differs from our 87,128 because later data have since been added.
Program settings come from the legislation explanatory statement. We did not use pre-July 2025 battery counts or any share-of-homes percentage, because we could not verify them.
FAQ
How many home batteries are there in Australia?
The Clean Energy Regulator recorded 546,789 batteries installed under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program from 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2026. Batteries installed before July 2025 are not in that count, and recent months will rise as installers finish paperwork.
What is the average size of a home battery in Australia?
The average is 28.0 kWh of usable capacity across all installs to 30 September 2026, a Solar Cobber calculation from CER data. It peaked at 36.8 kWh in April 2026 and fell to 21.9 kWh in May 2026 after tiered certificates started.
Which state has the most home batteries?
New South Wales has the most, with 187,241 installed to 30 September 2026, followed by Queensland (110,567) and Victoria (109,979). Relative to new solar installs, NSW also leads, at 167 batteries per 100 new systems in January to September 2026.
How much is the federal battery discount worth in 2026?
For a battery installed from 1 May to 31 December 2026, the discount is about A$2,720 for 10 kWh and A$4,760 for 20 kWh at A$40 per certificate. It falls to about A$2,280 and A$4,000 for installs from 1 January 2027.
How much does a home battery cost after the rebate?
Solar Choice’s index, updated 6 November 2026, averages A$7,384 for a 10 kWh battery and A$14,172 for 20 kWh, installed, after the federal discount and including GST. Prices vary by brand, installer and whether an extra inverter is needed.
Do you need solar panels to get the federal battery discount?
Yes. The CER states that batteries must be connected to a valid solar PV system to be eligible for certificates, new or existing. For other options see home battery without solar.
Are home battery installations falling?
Monthly installs fell from the April 2026 record to 23,679 in May 2026 and recovered to 31,769 in July 2026, with the latest months still incomplete.
Sources
- Clean Energy Regulator, small-scale installation postcode data, data to 30 September 2026
- CER Quarterly Carbon Market Report, June quarter 2026, consumer energy resources
- CER, Changes to Cheaper Home Batteries Program, 13 December 2025
- Explanatory statement, Renewable Energy Legislation (2026 Measures No. 1) Amendment Regulations 2026
- Clean Energy Council, Rooftop Solar and Storage Report, January to June 2026
- Solar Choice Battery Price Index, updated 6 November 2026
- ACCC Product Safety Australia recall notices
- ACCC, Lithium-ion batteries and consumer product safety, October 2023
About this guide
Written by the Solar Cobber editorial team from independent desk research checked in November 2026. Solar Cobber is a free directory that may earn referral or advertising fees from installers; commercial relationships never affect our content. This is general information, not financial advice. Spotted an error? Tell us via /contact.
Filed under Solar Guides
Back to blog
