If you've been thinking about adding a battery to your solar system, there's never been a better time. The federal government has officially expanded Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) to include home battery storage systems, meaning eligible households across Geelong, the Surf Coast, and all of Australia can now receive an upfront discount of up to $6,960 when installing a battery. This is a significant shift in how battery storage is incentivised in Australia, and it's already driving a surge in enquiries here at Evo Solar.
What Are STCs and How Do They Work?
STCs have been the backbone of solar panel affordability in Australia for over a decade. When you install an eligible renewable energy system, you earn a certain number of certificates based on the system size and how much clean energy it will produce over its lifetime. These certificates have a tradeable value, and in practice your installer applies the discount directly to your invoice — so you see the savings upfront without any paperwork or waiting. One STC is currently valued at around $40, and a typical home battery system can generate anywhere from 68 to 174 certificates depending on its capacity.
How Much Can You Actually Save?
The battery discount is based on the usable capacity of your battery and the current STC value at the time of installation. For installations completed from May to December 2026, a standard 10kWh battery can receive approximately 68 STCs, which is around $2,720 in gross STC value at $40 per certificate. Larger batteries receive a higher total discount, although the rebate now tapers for systems above 14kWh. A 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall can receive approximately 91 STCs, worth around $3,640 gross, while a 15kWh battery can receive approximately 99 STCs, worth around $3,960 gross. The maximum STC support applies to the first 50kWh of usable battery capacity — a 50kWh system can receive approximately 174 STCs, worth up to around $6,960 gross at $40 per STC. The discount is applied upfront at the point of sale by your accredited installer — there's no separate application, no voucher codes, and no waiting list. We handle the STC paperwork and apply the eligible discount directly to your quote.
What Happened to the Solar Victoria Battery Rebate?
Many Victorians will remember the Solar Victoria battery rebate, which offered up to $2,950 off a battery installation. That program has now closed to new applicants as funding was fully allocated. The good news is that the new federal STC eligibility for batteries actually provides a larger discount in most cases — often double what the old state rebate offered. Unlike the Victorian program, there are no income caps, no postcode restrictions within Australia, and no limited release dates to compete for. As long as your battery and installer meet the Clean Energy Council requirements, you're eligible.
Why Add a Battery Now?
Beyond the financial incentive, batteries make more practical sense than ever for Geelong and Surf Coast homeowners. Electricity prices continue to climb, feed-in tariffs have dropped significantly, and time-of-use billing means your power costs the most in the evening — exactly when your solar panels stop producing. A battery lets you store your daytime solar generation and use it at night, effectively shielding you from peak-rate electricity. Paired with backup capability, you also get protection during the power outages that can affect the Bellarine and coastal areas during storm season.
Get Your STC Battery Discount with Evo Solar
At Evo Solar, we're CEC-accredited installers and we handle the entire STC process for you. Whether you're adding a battery to an existing solar system or installing a complete solar-plus-battery package, we'll calculate your exact STC entitlement, apply it to your quote, and take care of all the paperwork. We install leading brands including Tesla Powerwall, BYD, Sungrow, and Enphase across Geelong, Torquay, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, and the wider Surf Coast region. Give us a call or request a quote online to find out exactly how much you can save.