Australia leads the world in adoption (per capita) of rooftop solar – more than 4 million households, which equates to one-in-three, have solar energy systems installed.
Until recently, take-up of batteries hasn’t been as widespread, with only 8 percent (one-in-40) of the country’s solar-powered households investing in batteries to store their excess energy, as at July 2025.
Since the Australian Government’s 30% subsidy on home solar batteries came into effect on 1 July 2025 however, there has been a surge – described as “off the charts” by the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen – in installations.
The Government reported that more than 11,500 applications had been made to the program in its first three weeks of ‘going live’ and 40,004 batteries were installed during the first eight weeks. To put these ‘battery boom’ figures in context, 2024 saw 75,000 batteries installed across Australia (which was an increase of 47% on 2023 figures).
Advantages of adding a battery to an existing rooftop solar system
By adding a battery, homeowners can reduce their reliance on the electricity grid and save more money on their power bills.
While homeowners who have solar power already make significant savings compared to those reliant on the grid, without a battery they still pay for electricity used at night or when the weather is bad – a cost that, until recently, was offset by excess power generated being returned to the grid.
But with feed-in tariffs being phased out and electricity grid prices remaining high, solar systems with added battery storage present the most economical solution for providing residential power.
Having solar and battery systems installed can also increase the value of a home and, according to published survey results, help it sell quicker.
Considerations when planning to add a battery to an existing solar system
It is possible to add a battery to an existing solar set-up, but the system will need to be in good working order, performing to expected output and appropriately sized to charge a battery. For example, a 3kW system on a house with typical day-to-day energy usage may need to upgrade to the recommended 5kW system to produce enough power on overcast days or during winter to ensure sufficient battery charge.
The other piece of equipment you may need is a charge controller to convert the power from your rooftop solar panels into the appropriate voltage (usually 48V for a household system) to charge the new battery. An inverter that can accept a 48V DC input is also required.
Importance of assessing your rooftop solar before adding a battery
The age, size and condition of the existing solar system are key factors when considering adding battery storage. If the system is too old, chances are the panels have degraded performance and efficiency. Many old systems – those installed before 2014 – also don’t include monitoring, meaning if there’s a fault or the system’s performance has become degraded, the homeowner won’t be alerted that there’s a problem.
Not sure where to start? Talk to one of our experts about your options 1800 844 022.
Cost of removing an existing system to make way for a new, more efficient one
Costs associated with removing an existing system depend on several factors, such as the number of panels to be removed, number of stories of the dwelling, any repairs that need to be made to the roof, and so on.
When panels are removed, the wiring and panel mounting will also need to be removed, as they won’t be compatible for a new system.
Cost of installing a battery and the new rebates available
The cost of installing a battery varies depending on the upgrades you need to your existing system. The good news is the Australian Government’s AU$2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program is reducing the typical cost of an installed battery by about AU$4,000.
According to analysis by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, and Environment, pairing a battery with rooftop solar will see typical households save up to AU$2,300 a year on power bills (compared to AU$1,500 in savings for solar only). Additional State Government rebates or interest-free loans for battery installation may also be applicable.
Find out more about battery installation
Whether you’ve already had solar installed or are considering it, Enreal can help with any questions about upgrading to include a battery with smart software. Its battery retrofit solution is agnostic of the existing set-up because it comes with a compatible inverter. Get started here.
