Western Australia

WA solar and battery rebates, with sources.

A breakdown of what WA homeowners can claim in 2026 — the Residential Battery Scheme, DEBS feed-in tariff, federal STCs, and the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Every figure cited.

Western Australia · STC Zone 3 (1.382) · Last verified 2026-05-23

WA state programs

WA Residential Battery Scheme

Administered by Energy Policy WA · Status: open — Open since 1 July 2025

A per-kWh rebate on home batteries — different rates for Synergy (metro) and Horizon Power (regional) customers.

What it is worth: Synergy customers: $130 per usable kWh, max $1,300. Horizon Power customers: $380 per usable kWh, max $3,800. Capped at 10 kWh usable capacity for the rebate calculation. A separate zero-interest loan of up to $10,000 is available over 3–10 years.

Eligibility

  • Age 18+, Australian permanent resident
  • Synergy or Horizon Power customer
  • Battery installed on or after 1 July 2025
  • Usable capacity 5–10 kWh
  • Must connect to and remain on a VPP for the duration of the scheme
  • Renters eligible with landlord consent

Stacks with

  • Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (combined ~$5,000 for Synergy, ~$7,500 for Horizon on a 10 kWh battery)
  • Federal STCs on the solar panels

The catch most people miss: The 10 kWh hard cap on usable capacity for the WA rebate means a 13.5 kWh battery still only earns the 10 kWh figure. VPP enrolment is mandatory for the scheme duration, not optional. Synergy customers in metro Perth get materially less than Horizon customers in the regions.

Federal programs — these apply in WA too

Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)

Administered by Clean Energy Regulator · Status: open — Open, phasing down annually until scheme end in 2030

An upfront discount on your solar panel system, applied by the installer at point of sale.

What it is worth: Calculated as: system size (kW) × your postcode zone rating × deeming period (5 years in 2026). Each STC trades on the open market — typically around $36–$39. A 6.6 kW system in Sydney (Zone 3) currently generates around 44–46 STCs.

Eligibility

  • System size ≤ 100 kW
  • CEC-accredited installer and CEC-approved panels and inverter
  • New install (not a replacement of an existing system claimed within the same window)

Stacks with

  • Federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program (battery STCs are a separate stream)
  • Every active state rebate stacks with STCs

The catch most people miss: STC value drops every 1 January as the deeming period shrinks by one year. A system installed in December 2026 is worth meaningfully more in STCs than the same system installed in January 2027.

Cheaper Home Batteries Program

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (delivered as STCs) · Status: open — Open since 1 July 2025

Roughly a quarter off the installed cost of a home battery, applied upfront like the solar STC.

What it is worth: Calculated as: usable battery kWh × STC factor × certificate spot price. From 1 May 2026 the STC factor is 6.8 per usable kWh (down from 8.4 in Jan–Apr 2026). Tapered above 14 kWh — 60% rate from 14–28 kWh, 15% rate from 28–50 kWh, nothing above 50 kWh.

Eligibility

  • Battery installed on a new or existing solar PV system
  • Usable capacity between 5 kWh and 100 kWh nominal
  • One battery rebate per address — only the first battery at any site qualifies
  • System commissioned on or after 1 July 2025

Stacks with

  • Federal STCs on the solar panels
  • NSW VPP incentive
  • WA Residential Battery Scheme
  • NT Home and Business Battery Scheme
  • ACT Sustainable Household Scheme loan

The catch most people miss: The STC factor steps down on 1 May each year. An identically-priced battery installed 30 April 2026 is worth roughly $300–$400 more in rebate than the same battery installed 1 May 2026 (10 kWh example). Homeowners who delay past April lose meaningful money.

Common questions

What’s the DEBS feed-in tariff in WA?
The Distributed Energy Buyback Scheme pays Synergy customers 10c/kWh exported between 3pm–9pm and 2c/kWh outside that window. Horizon Power pays 10c/kWh peak and 3c/kWh off-peak. Reviewed annually.
Why do Horizon customers get a bigger battery rebate than Synergy?
WA pays Horizon customers more per kWh ($380 vs Synergy’s $130) because regional and remote grids benefit more from local battery storage. The downside is fewer accredited installers operate in regional WA.
Do I have to join a VPP?
Yes — VPP enrolment is mandatory to claim the WA Residential Battery Scheme rebate, and you have to stay enrolled for the scheme duration. A VPP operator can dispatch your battery during peak events, so check the terms before signing.
What zone is Perth in for STC purposes?
Perth is in Zone 3 with a zone rating of 1.382. Most of the populated south-west sits in Zone 3 as well. Northern WA (Pilbara, Kimberley) is Zone 1 — the highest rating.
Does the WA scheme apply if I’ve already got solar?
Yes. The Residential Battery Scheme is the battery rebate — your existing solar PV qualifies via the federal STC system, and the WA scheme applies to a new battery added on top.

Postcode in, up to 3 vetted installers out. Free for homeowners, no obligation. Federal rebates · Solar guides