A home battery stores the electricity your solar panels generate during the day so you can use it in the evening, overnight, or during a power outage. Instead of exporting excess solar energy to the grid at a low feed-in tariff, a battery lets you keep that energy and use it when grid electricity is most expensive.
SunRight Solar installs battery systems from 5kWh for smaller households up to 42kWh for large homes seeking near-complete energy independence. Every installation uses batteries from the CEC-approved product list.
The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program currently provides around a 30% discount on eligible battery systems, applied automatically at the point of sale.
A home battery is a rechargeable energy storage unit installed in your home, typically in a garage, laundry, or on an external wall. It connects to your solar system through your inverter and charges from the excess solar electricity your panels produce during the day.
Your solar panels generate electricity. Your home uses what it needs first. Any surplus flows into your battery.
Once the battery is fully charged, additional surplus is exported to the grid and you receive a feed-in tariff (typically 3 to 10 cents per kWh).
When the sun goes down, your home draws stored energy from the battery instead of buying from the grid at 30 to 45 cents per kWh. This is where the real savings come from.
The cycle restarts. Your battery begins charging again from solar.
The financial benefit of a battery is the difference between the value of the energy you store (avoiding 30 to 45 cents per kWh in grid purchases) versus the value of exporting it (receiving 3 to 10 cents per kWh in feed-in tariff). For most Australian households, that gap is between 20 and 40 cents per kilowatt-hour of stored energy.
Four reasons Australian households add storage to an existing or new solar panel system.
Without a battery, a typical household self-consumes around 30 to 40 per cent of its solar generation. The rest is exported to the grid. A battery can lift your self-consumption to 70 to 90 per cent, meaning you use far more of the electricity you generate rather than buying it back from your retailer at a higher price.
In most Australian states, electricity is most expensive during the late afternoon and evening (the "peak" period). This is exactly when your solar panels stop generating. A battery bridges this gap by supplying stored solar energy during peak pricing, which is where the largest bill reduction occurs.
Some battery systems can provide backup power during grid outages, but this depends on how the system is configured. A battery installed with a compatible hybrid inverter and a dedicated backup circuit will continue to power selected appliances during a blackout. A standard installation without backup configuration will shut down along with the grid, just like a solar-only system.
If blackout protection is important to you, make sure this is specified in your quote. The backup capability, the number of circuits protected, and the inverter configuration all need to be designed before installation.
A virtual power plant (VPP) is a network of home batteries that are coordinated to supply electricity to the grid during periods of high demand. In exchange, the battery owner receives payments or credits from the VPP operator.
Under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, on-grid battery systems must have VPP capability. This does not mean you are required to join a VPP. It means your battery must have the technical ability to participate, giving you the option in the future.
VPP payments vary by operator and market conditions. Some programs offer fixed monthly credits, while others pay based on the number of events your battery responds to. SunRight Solar can advise on VPP options available in your area.
The right battery capacity depends on how much electricity your household uses in the evening and overnight (when solar is not generating), whether you want full or partial self-sufficiency, and whether blackout backup is a priority.
A simple starting point: check your evening and overnight electricity usage on your most recent bill or monitoring app. If your household uses 10 to 15 kWh between 4 pm and 8 am, a 10 to 14 kWh battery will cover most of that demand.
An entry-level battery for smaller households or as a first step into battery storage. Suits homes using less than 10 kWh overnight, or homeowners who want to offset peak evening usage without covering the entire night.
Learn More About the 5kWh BatteryThe most popular residential battery capacity in Australia. Suits households using 10 to 15 kWh overnight, covering the evening peak and most overnight demand for a typical family home. A strong match for homes with a 6.6kW solar system.
Learn More About the 10kWh BatteryA mid-range capacity that suits larger families or households with higher evening usage. Covers most overnight demand for homes using 12 to 20 kWh between sunset and sunrise. This capacity sits in the sweet spot of the federal battery rebate's tiered structure.
Learn More About the 14kWh BatteryDesigned for high-consumption households or homes seeking greater energy independence. Suits large families, homes with ducted air conditioning running in the evening, or households wanting substantial blackout backup capacity. Pairs well with a 10kW or larger solar system.
Learn More About the 20kWh BatteryA large-capacity system for households aiming for near-complete self-sufficiency or extended blackout protection. Suits all-electric homes with high overnight demand, multiple EV chargers, or regional properties where grid reliability is a concern.
Learn More About the 28kWh BatteryThe largest residential battery configuration we install. Designed for homes that want to minimise grid dependence as much as possible, or properties requiring extended backup capability for essential loads over multiple days. Typically paired with a 13kW solar system.
Learn More About the 42kWh BatteryNot sure which capacity suits your household? Your most recent electricity bill and a conversation with our team is the best starting point. We design battery systems based on your actual usage data, not assumptions.
We select battery brands based on cell quality, warranty terms, local support infrastructure, compatibility with our inverter range, and long-term reliability. We do not install budget batteries or brands without established Australian warranty pathways.
We also work with additional battery brands depending on project requirements and availability. For a detailed comparison of battery brands and specifications, see our buying guide.
One of the most widely installed residential battery brands in Australia. Sungrow's SBR series uses LFP chemistry with a modular, stackable design that allows you to add capacity over time. Compatible with Sungrow hybrid inverters for a fully integrated system.
A premium, modular battery and inverter platform. Sigenergy's systems combine the battery and hybrid inverter into a single integrated unit, with expansion modules that can be added as your needs grow. Includes built-in EV charger capability.
FoxESS batteries offer strong value with LFP chemistry, good cycle life warranties, and compatibility with a range of hybrid inverters. A solid mid-range option for households seeking reliable storage without a premium price.
Growatt's battery range pairs with their hybrid inverters for an integrated system at a competitive price point. Modular stacking is available across most models.
Almost all residential batteries installed in Australia in 2026 use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. If you are comparing quotes, you may also see references to NMC (nickel manganese cobalt), which was common in earlier residential batteries but has largely been replaced.
LFP advantages for home use:
The trade-off: LFP batteries have a slightly lower energy density than NMC, which means they are physically larger for the same capacity. In a residential setting, this difference is minor because wall-mounted or floor-standing units have plenty of space.
All batteries SunRight Solar installs use LFP chemistry unless a specific project requires an alternative.
When your installer designs your battery system, one of the decisions is whether to use a DC-coupled or AC-coupled configuration. The difference relates to how the battery connects to your solar panels and inverter.
DC-coupled means the battery is connected on the DC side of the inverter (between the panels and the inverter). The solar DC electricity charges the battery directly without being converted to AC first, which is slightly more efficient. DC-coupled systems typically use a hybrid inverter that manages both solar and battery in one unit. This is the most common configuration for new solar-plus-battery installations.
AC-coupled means the battery has its own separate inverter and connects on the AC side (after the solar inverter has already converted DC to AC). This is the standard approach when adding a battery to an existing solar system where the current inverter is not battery-compatible. AC coupling is slightly less efficient because the energy is converted twice (DC to AC by the solar inverter, then AC back to DC to charge the battery), but the difference is typically 3 to 5 per cent.
In practical terms: if you are installing solar and a battery at the same time, DC-coupled with a hybrid inverter is usually the best option. If you are adding a battery to an existing solar system with a functioning string inverter, AC-coupled is often the simpler and more cost-effective path.
Several of the battery brands we install use modular, stackable designs that allow you to add capacity after the initial installation. This is a practical option if you want to start with a smaller battery and expand as your energy needs change or as battery prices continue to decrease.
Not all battery systems support expansion. If modularity is a priority, discuss this with your installer before selecting a brand.
The Australian Government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides around a 30% discount on eligible battery systems from 5kWh to 100kWh in usable capacity.
The discount is applied automatically at the point of sale through the Small-scale Technology Certificate (STC) scheme. You do not need to apply separately. Your installer claims the STCs on your behalf and deducts the discount from your purchase price.
The discount amount is based on the usable capacity of the battery (not the nominal capacity) and the current STC factor, which is reviewed periodically. The programme is funded until 2030 but the discount is designed to reduce over time as battery prices decrease.
Eligibility requirements include using an SAA accredited installer with GCBS (Grid Connected Battery Systems) accreditation, selecting a battery from the CEC-approved product list, and ensuring the battery system has VPP capability if connected to the grid.
State-based incentives may also apply. In NSW, the Home Energy Saver Program offers eligible households zero-interest loans of up to $15,000 for battery and solar upgrades.
Source: DCCEEW Source: DCCEEW eligibility Source: NSW Government
The most practical way to determine the right size is to look at your evening and overnight electricity usage. If your household uses 10 to 15 kWh between 4 pm and 8 am, a 10 to 14 kWh battery will cover most of that demand. For larger homes or homes with high evening usage (ducted AC, pool heating, EV charging), 20 kWh or more may be appropriate.
Nominal capacity is the total energy the battery can theoretically store. Usable capacity is the amount you can actually access. Batteries retain a small reserve to protect cell health and extend lifespan. When comparing quotes, always compare usable capacity, not nominal. The federal battery rebate is also calculated on usable capacity.
Only if your system is configured for backup. A battery with a compatible hybrid inverter and dedicated backup circuits will continue to power selected loads during a grid outage. A standard grid-connected battery installation without backup configuration will shut down during a blackout. If blackout protection matters to you, specify this before installation.
In most cases, yes. If your current inverter is a hybrid model, a battery can be connected directly (DC-coupled). If your inverter is a standard string inverter, a battery can be added using an AC-coupled configuration with its own battery inverter. Your installer will assess your existing system and recommend the best approach.
Most residential LFP batteries are warranted for 10 to 15 years or a specified number of charge cycles (typically 6,000 to 10,000 cycles). In practice, a well-maintained LFP battery is expected to retain 70 to 80 per cent of its original capacity at the end of its warranty period. Daily cycling in an Australian household typically means one full cycle per day.
Yes. A battery requires either a hybrid inverter (which manages both solar and battery) or a dedicated battery inverter (for AC-coupled systems added to existing solar). Not every inverter is compatible with every battery brand. SunRight Solar designs systems where the inverter and battery are matched for compatibility, and we explain this in your quote.
A battery is a long-term investment. The right system depends on your solar setup, your evening electricity usage, and whether you want blackout protection. Request a free, no-obligation quote and we will recommend a battery capacity and brand based on your actual energy data.
