From July 4, 2025, Western Australians will have a solid new reason to consider installing a home battery. Thanks to a joint push by the WA and Federal Governments, the WA Residential Battery Scheme is up and running—offering generous rebates and no-interest loans to make battery storage systems far more accessible to households across the state.
Here’s a clear, no-fuss guide to how it all works and why you might want to jump on board.
So, What’s the Scheme All About?
At its heart, this scheme is about helping WA residents get more value from their solar setups. By making battery systems more affordable, the government wants more households to be able to store solar energy during the day and use it when the sun’s gone down—cutting down on power bills and easing pressure on the grid.
The incentives come in two main flavours: upfront rebates and interest-free loans. Together, they’re designed to encourage widespread uptake, from city homes to those in regional WA.
The Dollars and Sense
Upfront Rebates
These rebates vary depending on your electricity provider:
- If you’re with Synergy: You could score up to $5,000 off a 10kWh battery system. Visit the Synergy WA Residential Battery Scheme page.
- If you're a Horizon Power customer: You may be eligible for a rebate of up to $7,500—a nod to the often higher costs of installing and maintaining energy systems in regional areas. Visit the Horizon Power WA Residential Battery Scheme page.
These discounts are usually taken off the price by approved vendors, so there’s no need to wait around for a government cheque.
No-Interest Loans
For households earning less than $210,000 a year, there's also the option of a no-interest loan of up to $10,000, repayable over up to ten years. The loan can be used not just for the battery, but also for solar panels—if you're upgrading or installing a full new system.
What’s This About a Virtual Power Plant?
One key requirement of the scheme is that any battery system you install with a rebate must be part of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
What’s a VPP?
Think of it as a community of home batteries that work together. By linking individual solar and battery systems, a VPP can shift energy around in smart ways—helping stabilise the grid during peak times or emergencies.
What’s in It for You?
Being part of a VPP isn’t just about helping the grid. Your battery could earn you money by selling power back when demand (and prices) spike. So while you’re storing energy for personal use, you’re also potentially generating a little extra income.
Who Can Apply?
You’ll need to tick a few boxes to be eligible:
- Location & Supply: You must live in WA and get your electricity from Synergy or Horizon Power.
- Property Type: This is for residential properties—including homes with small businesses operating from them.
- Battery Type: Only new or replacement systems are eligible. No second-hand units allowed.
- Minimum Size: Your battery must have at least 5 kWh of usable storage.
- Quality & Safety: The battery must be on the Clean Energy Council's approved list and installed by a WA-accredited vendor.
- Grid-Ready: The system needs to be capable of VPP participation.
- Timing: Only systems installed on or after July 4, 2025 are eligible.
How to Get Started
The process has been made fairly straightforward:
- Check Eligibility: Read up on the full criteria and make sure you’re good to go.
- Get Quotes: Contact approved battery retailers, who can advise on your options and estimated rebates.
- Vendor Does the Paperwork: Once you’ve picked a system, your retailer usually handles the rebate application for you.
- Loan Applications: If you're eligible for a no-interest loan, Plenti, the scheme’s financial partner, will be in touch to manage that side of things.
Why Now’s the Time
With around 100,000 rebates on offer, this scheme represents one of WA’s biggest steps yet toward a more sustainable energy future. For households, it's a great opportunity to cut long-term energy costs and become more energy-independent.
So if you’ve been thinking about getting a battery—or upgrading your existing solar setup—it might be time to plug into something big.
Article information source: wa.gov.au - WA Residential Battery Scheme
