A battery stores the solar power you generate but do not use straight away, so you can use it in the evening, overnight, or during a blackout. It works alongside new or existing solar panels; it does not replace them. This page covers grid-connect batteries for homes in Canberra, Queanbeyan and surrounds. For a property with no grid connection, see our off-grid solar guide; the sizing and pricing are different.
Why a battery makes sense in Canberra and Queanbeyan
Feed-in tariffs sit around 5c/kWh in both the ACT and NSW. Retail tariffs sit around 37c/kWh in the ACT and 35c/kWh in NSW. Every kWh you store and use yourself is worth around seven times the same kWh exported to the grid. A battery captures that gap.
The local climate makes the gap bigger. Canberra and Queanbeyan winters bring cold mornings and long evenings, so heating and cooking loads land after the sun has gone down. Without a battery, most of the power your panels make at midday is exported cheaply and bought back at full price that night.
SAA accredited for batteries
Island Solar holds SAA accreditation for Grid Connected Battery Systems (GCBS), design and install, accreditation no. S8606021. That is the class a battery installer needs for the federal battery discount, and it sits on top of nationally recognised battery units UEERE0060, UEERE0077 and UEERE0078 and SAA training on fire barriers and habitable rooms, the rules that decide where a battery can go in your home.
Battery rebates and loans
Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Eligible home batteries attract an upfront discount of around 30%, paid through STCs and taken straight off your quote. We claim it for you, so you do not need to apply yourself (you can choose to claim it directly instead). To qualify, the battery must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list and installed by an SAA-accredited installer. Since 1 May 2026 the discount is tiered by battery size: the first 14kWh of usable capacity gets the full rate, and larger batteries get a reduced rate on the extra capacity. The rate also steps down every six months; the next cut is on 1 January 2027, so a battery installed before then gets a larger discount. Your quote shows the exact discount for the battery you choose.
ACT Sustainable Household Scheme. Eligible ACT households can finance a battery, solar and other upgrades with a low-interest loan of up to $20,000 for new participants (3%, repaid over up to 10 years, no upfront fees). Households that applied before 1 July 2026 stay capped at $15,000. It can be combined with the federal discount. Check the ACT Government's Sustainable Household Scheme page for eligibility.
Queanbeyan and NSW. NSW homes get the same federal discount. We confirm whether any NSW incentive also applies to your property as part of the quote. For how STCs work on the solar side, see our rebates and STCs guide.
Sizing a battery correctly
We size batteries against your real usage pattern, not a fixed number. We offer 5kWh, 10kWh, 13.5kWh and 20kWh options, and larger modular stacks where they make sense. A smaller battery suits a household that uses most of its power during the day. A larger battery suits a household with high evening or overnight use, an electric car, or heat-pump heating. Too small, and you still draw from the grid at peak rates; too large, and you pay for capacity you rarely use. Because the federal discount tapers above 14kWh, the right size is also the one that keeps the most rebate per dollar spent. We model your actual bill and usage before recommending one.
Battery brands we install
We are not tied to one manufacturer, so we recommend the battery that suits your home, your existing inverter and your budget. Brands we install include:
- Sigenergy
- Sungrow
- SolarEdge
- Redback
- RedEarth
- Selectronic
- Victron
- Pylontech
- Deye
- SAJ
- iStore
- SkyVolt
- ZYC (SIMPO)
The right choice depends on whether you need whole-home backup, how much you want to expand later, and what inverter you already have. Every battery we install is on the approved list, so it stays eligible for the federal discount.
“The most amazing electrical installation I have ever gone through. Island Solar delivered what they said they would, communicated at every step.”
Solomon Kaddu, Bungendore. 5 stars on Google, July 2023. Two RedEarth Troppo 4.1kWh LFP batteries.
Real pricing
Our battery pricing is fitted from our own completed jobs: $429 per kWh of battery capacity, on top of the solar system itself at $824/kW. Both rates are what customers paid, with STCs and the federal battery discount already taken off. The discount has reduced since 1 May 2026, so your quote is priced at the current rate. See our Canberra and Queanbeyan battery guide for worked payback examples using these numbers, or run your own property through our savings calculator. Your written quote shows the full price, the federal discount and what you pay.
Blackout backup
A battery with a backup-capable inverter keeps the lights, fridge and internet running when the grid drops out, which matters after summer storms and on semi-rural blocks around Queanbeyan, Bungendore and Murrumbateman. Not every battery backs up automatically. Some setups back up the whole home; others back up a selected set of essential circuits. We confirm which you are getting, in writing, before you sign.
Adding a battery to an existing system
You do not need to have installed your solar through us to add a battery. We assess your existing inverter first. Some inverters accept a battery directly; others need a separate battery inverter (AC coupling) or a hybrid inverter upgrade. Older systems on a generous feed-in tariff need a careful look before any change. This assessment is part of your free quote, not a separate cost.
Network approval
Canberra homes are on the Evoenergy network and Queanbeyan homes are on Essential Energy. Each network approves battery and solar connections and sets your export limit. We handle the application and tell you the approved limit before installation.
Battery storage for businesses
Commercial batteries follow the same logic at a larger scale: more self-consumption, and backup for operations that cannot tolerate an outage. Businesses with demand charges (a charge based on peak power draw, not just total energy used) can also use a battery to trim that peak. We size commercial batteries against your actual load profile. See commercial solar.
Battery chemistry and usable capacity
Most home batteries we install use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, which are stable, long-lived and suited to daily cycling. When comparing quotes, check the usable capacity, not just the headline number: two batteries with the same kWh rating can deliver different real-world storage. The federal discount is also calculated on usable capacity, so it is the figure that matters on both sides of the price.
Inverter integration
On a grid-connect battery, the hybrid or battery inverter manages charging and protects the cells from over- and under-charging. A poor match between battery and inverter shortens the life of the expensive parts of the system. We confirm exactly which inverter is included, and how it talks to the battery, before you compare quotes on price alone.
Common battery questions
How much is the battery rebate? It depends on the battery's usable capacity and the date it is installed, since the rate is tiered by size and steps down every six months. We show the exact figure on your quote, already deducted.
Can I use the ACT loan and the federal discount together? Yes, for eligible ACT households. The federal discount comes off the price first, and the loan can cover the remainder.
How long do batteries last? Warranties are usually around 10 years and guarantee a minimum usable capacity after a set number of years or cycles, since capacity naturally fades with use. We walk you through the specific warranty for your product before you commit.
Can a battery power my whole house during a blackout? It depends on the battery size and the inverter's backup capability. Some setups back up the whole property, others a limited set of circuits. We confirm this specifically as part of your quote.
Is a battery worth it on a low-usage plan? Not always. Payback depends on when you use power and your tariff. We would rather tell you honestly if a battery does not make financial sense than sell you one anyway.
Do you install outside Canberra and Queanbeyan? Yes. We also install across the surrounding region and the NSW South Coast. Ask when you request a quote.
Want a real number for your home?
We model battery size, discount and payback against your actual usage, not a generic estimate.
