Home solar and batteries: cost, savings and payback
A typical 6.6 kW solar system costs about $4,500–8,000 installed after the federal rebate and usually pays for itself in about 4–7 years, faster if you charge an EV during the day. A 10 kWh home battery costs about $7,000–11,000 after the rebate and pays back in roughly 6–14 years in most cities, best in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.
How solar, a battery and an EV work together
The key to saving money is using your own solar rather than exporting it. Power you export earns only about 3–7c per kWh, while power you buy costs around 25–42c depending on your state (34c in NSW on the default rate). Every kWh you use yourself, in the house, the battery or the car, is worth five to ten times more than one you sell.
What it costs to install (2026)
- 6.6 kW solar: about $4,500–8,000 installed, after the federal small-scale (STC) rebate that's taken off the price.
- 10 kW solar: about $8,000–12,000.
- 10 kWh battery: about $7,000–11,000 after the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate. 15 kWh is about $11,000–15,000; 20 kWh about $14,000–19,000.
- The battery rebate is shrinking: since 1 May 2026 it's worth about $258 per kWh for the first 14 kWh, and it steps down every six months until 2030, so it's worth less the longer you wait. Batteries bigger than 14 kWh get a smaller rebate on the extra capacity.
- Some states add their own rebates or interest-free loans, so check your state's energy website before buying.
Prices vary with roof type, switchboard upgrades and brand. Get at least three quotes from Clean Energy Council approved installers.
Solar payback by state
A 6.6 kW system costing $6,500. Typical homes use about 30% of their solar directly; charging an EV during the day can lift that to around 50%. Saved power is valued at each state's 2026–27 default electricity rate, and exports at 5c per kWh.
| State | Solar made per year | Saving / yr | Payback | Saving / yr, charging an EV by day | Payback with EV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 9,395 kWh | $1,284 | 5.1 yrs | $1,827 | 3.6 yrs |
| Victoria | 8,672 kWh | $1,042 | 6.2 yrs | $1,448 | 4.5 yrs |
| Queensland | 10,118 kWh | $1,204 | 5.4 yrs | $1,669 | 3.9 yrs |
| South Australia | 10,118 kWh | $1,626 | 4.0 yrs | $2,373 | 2.7 yrs |
| WA | 10,600 kWh | $1,430 | 4.5 yrs | $2,030 | 3.2 yrs |
| Tasmania | 8,432 kWh | $922 | 7.0 yrs | $1,256 | 5.2 yrs |
| ACT | 10,359 kWh | $1,512 | 4.3 yrs | $2,175 | 3.0 yrs |
| NT | 10,600 kWh | $1,328 | 4.9 yrs | $1,860 | 3.5 yrs |
Rough estimates only. Your real result depends on your roof direction, shading, usage and electricity plan.
Battery payback by city
From SolarQuotes' modelling, reported by CHOICE in June 2026: a battery costing about $8,500 installed after the federal rebate, covering about 7 kWh of evening use, on top of existing solar.
| City | Saving / yr | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | $1,350 | 6.3 yrs |
| Perth | $1,120 | 7.6 yrs |
| Brisbane | $1,100 | 7.7 yrs |
| Sydney | $1,030 | 8.3 yrs |
| Canberra | $700 | 12.1 yrs |
| Darwin | $620 | 13.7 yrs |
| Melbourne | $610 | 13.9 yrs |
| Hobart | $410 | 20.7 yrs |
Most batteries carry a 10-year warranty, so a payback much longer than that is a gamble. Batteries pay off best where evening power is expensive and feed-in tariffs are low, and if you have a time-of-use plan with high peak prices.
Does a home battery help charge an EV?
Usually only a little. An EV battery is five to eight times bigger than a home battery, so a 10 kWh home battery would barely dent a car's needs, and it's better used for the house in the evening. The cheapest EV charging is straight from the panels during the day, or on a cheap overnight or free-midday plan. See charging an EV with solar and the charging options guide.
Is it worth it for you?
- Solar: almost always worth it for owner-occupiers who'll stay five years or more, especially if someone is home by day or you charge an EV.
- Battery: worth it where payback is under about 10 years: high evening use, expensive power, low feed-in tariff. Otherwise, consider waiting for prices to fall further.
- Renting or apartment: look at your retailer's free-midday offer instead.
General information only. Quotes and your own bills give the real answer.
Common questions
How much does a 6.6 kW solar system cost in Australia?
About $4,500–8,000 installed in 2026, after the federal small-scale technology certificate rebate, depending on panels, inverter and installer.
How long does solar take to pay for itself?
Usually about 4–7 years, depending on your state, how much solar you use yourself and your electricity price. Charging an EV during the day can bring it down to around 3–5 years.
How much is the home battery rebate in 2026?
Under the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, about $258 per kWh of usable capacity for the first 14 kWh from 1 May 2026, less for capacity above that. The rebate steps down every six months until 2030.
Is a home battery worth it?
It depends where you live. Modelling reported by CHOICE shows paybacks of about 6–8 years in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, but 12–21 years in Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne and Hobart. Most batteries have a 10-year warranty.
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How we work it out
Weekly cost is the car's claimed energy use (kWh per 100 km) × your distance × your electricity price. "Per week" figures on this site assume 250 km a week with 90% of charging at home. Petrol comparisons use the fuel use and price you choose. Prices are list prices at October 2026 and change often; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default or regulated flat rates from the AER Default Market Offer (NSW, SE QLD, SA), Victorian Default Offer, Aurora Energy (TAS), Jacana Energy (NT), Synergy (WA) and ActewAGL (ACT).
- Public charging: Sydney survey of Chargefox, Evie, NRMA, Tesla and BP Pulse prices, July 2026.
- Car specs and prices: manufacturer figures as published by CarExpert, AEVA EV fact sheets, Drive and EV Central's car guide. Some prices are the publisher's estimates; check with a dealer.
- Servicing: published capped-price schedules (BYD Sealion 7, BYD Seal, Geely EX5, Jaecoo J5 EV, Kia EV5, Zeekr 7X). Tesla has no fixed service schedule and CarExpert's EV servicing comparison. Where a model's pricing isn't published yet we use the brand's nearest model and mark it as an estimate.
- Tyres: we assume an EV set lasts 35,000 km (RACV says 20,000–40,000 km; independent wear tests of mainstream EV tyres show about 37,000–49,000 km). Replacement set prices (mid-range brands, fitted) from Gridly's 2026 EV tyre cost guide.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC average retail unleaded and diesel prices in each capital city, 21 October 2026 (ACCC weekly fuel price monitoring).
- Plug-in hybrids: prices, battery sizes and claimed electric range from CarExpert, Cars24, Zecar and The Beep. Real-world electric range is taken as 80% of the claim; plug-ins charged at home each night are assumed to do up to 85% of driving on electricity. Petrol use with a flat battery is our estimate from reviews where makers don't publish one.
- Diesel utes and SUVs: claimed combined fuel use and prices from CarExpert, 4X4 Australia and CarSauce. The HiLux automatic, Prado and Mazda CX-60 D50e are 48-volt mild-hybrid diesels; their small battery assists the engine but can't drive the car on its own.
- Petrol mild hybrids (Suzuki Swift Hybrid, Mazda CX-60 G40e): claimed fuel use and prices from CarExpert.
- Hybrids: claimed fuel use, prices and capped-price servicing as published by CarExpert and CarsGuide. Petrol and hybrid tyres usually last 40,000–60,000 km (RACV); we use 50,000 km.
- Home chargers: typically $1,000–$3,000 installed, about $2,000 typical (What's the Damage, October 2026).
- Novated lease rules: PwC summary of the May 2026 FBT changes.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer.