Bigger solar rebate now covers systems up to 1 MW
The SRES expansion is aimed at businesses, but the battery-led shift in rooftop solar affects what households pay for panels and storage.
The small-scale scheme that discounts solar now covers much bigger systems, but the change is aimed at commercial buyers. For households, the practical effect is indirect: installers are talking about batteries first and panels second. A typical 6 kWp home system is currently around $8,900, with a usual range of $6,950 – $11,600.
What happened
According to Renew Economy, the SRES scheme raised its maximum eligible system size from 100 kilowatts to 1 megawatt at the start of this month. The government said when it announced the expansion in August that the discount of about 20% would take $68,000 off a 250-kW system.
The report quotes Trina Solar's Australian operations head, Edison Zhou, saying the company has had plenty of positive feedback from distributors and installers. Commercial and industrial work is currently about 20–30% of Trina's Australian business, with most of the rest residential. He expects that share to grow, though longer approval processes mean the pick-up will take time to show.
Renew Economy also reports that:
- Mid-scale certificates keep the same value whether a system goes in during 2026 or 2028, unlike the sliding value of residential certificates.
- Sunwiz data shows average new solar systems shrinking from about 12 kW to under 10 kW after the federal battery subsidy was pared back.
- Trina says the batteries it is installing average about 24 kWh, roughly double the level before the battery scheme began.
- Storage is now the first topic with residential customers, and many sales come from households adding a battery and replacing an older, smaller solar system.
What it means for households
The expanded scheme doesn't change what you pay for a home system. Residential solar is still quoted after STCs, a federal discount that steps down each year until the scheme ends in 2030. Waiting means a slightly smaller discount, not a larger one.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is the bigger factor for homes. It gives a discount on batteries through certificates, reducing every six months until 2030. Because the discount falls on a schedule, timing matters.
Our solar guide covers the full picture: Solar panels. Here is how a typical mid-range 6 kWp system changes with storage:
| Material | Typical | Usual range | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| No battery | $7,500 | $5,850 – $9,750 | – |
| 5 kWh battery | $8,900 | $6,950 – $11,600 | – |
| 10 kWh battery | $10,400 | $8,100 – $13,500 | – |
| 13.5 kWh battery | $11,400 | $8,850 – $14,800 | – |
Some state schemes can also help. Victoria's Solar Homes program offers a panel rebate of up to $1,400, with a household income cap of $150,000 from 1 July 2026. Western Australia's residential battery scheme offers up to $1,300 (Synergy) or $3,800 (Horizon Power) with virtual power plant participation.
Should you size up?
The trend in the report is that households are buying bigger batteries and smaller panel arrays. That is a sensible shift if you use most of your power in the evening, but a bigger battery isn't automatically better value. Check these before you commit:
- Your evening usage. A battery much larger than your overnight consumption sits partly unused.
- Whether your old system should be replaced. Adding storage to an ageing inverter and panels can be the moment to upgrade, but only if the existing gear is genuinely at the end of its life.
- What the quote bundles. Inverter, battery and panels are often priced together, so ask for each line separately.
If you already have solar and are thinking of adding a battery, keep in mind that all electrical work must be done by licensed tradespeople.
How we calculate
Our solar figures are built from installer labour hours at local rates plus equipment costs, checked against market prices and real quotes, and include 10% GST. They are quoted after STCs. When the certificate discount steps down, we update the model.
If you have a quote in hand, our quote checker ("is my quote fair") compares it against the live figures for your project so you can see whether the panel, inverter and battery lines look reasonable.
Bottom line
This is a commercial-side change with a limited direct effect on household bills. The lasting lesson for homeowners is that battery discounts shrink on a schedule, and installers are building quotes around storage. Get at least a few quotes, ask for itemised pricing, and size the battery to how you actually use power.