More than 19,000 solar batteries were installed in July under the expanded Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has confirmed a strong start to the solar battery rebate program, with 19,592 installations approved in the first month of eligibility.
The July installations added a combined nominal capacity of 344.1 MWh to Australia’s distributed energy network.
The new rebate, available from 1 July 2025, allows eligible customers to receive around 30 per cent off the cost of a battery when installed alongside a new or existing rooftop solar system. Average battery size for July installations was 18.2 kWh.
Figures released by the CER are based on applications that have claimed or had small-scale technology certificates (STCs) approved. Additional installations not yet processed are not included in the current tally.
The CER has also commenced its compliance inspection program to ensure safety standards are met.
“Solar batteries allow all Australians to play a vital role in accelerating the renewable energy uptake in Australia,” said Carl Binning, Executive General Manager, Scheme Operations Division.
“An increase in solar batteries across Australia benefits the householder and reduces supply and demand across the whole electricity grid, meaning lower electricity bills for everyone.”
Binning emphasised safety and compliance as installation volumes grow.
“It’s essential that safety is at the forefront – our inspection program is now underway on new solar batteries that have claimed the discount under the scheme,” he said.
Inspection findings will be shared with state and territory regulators as well as Solar Accreditation Australia to inform compliance and professional development programs.
Postcode-level battery installation data will be published monthly from mid-August. More accurate historical data is available via AEMO’s Distributed Energy Resource Register.
The CER has flagged processing delays for STCs during the ramp-up phase and urged applicants to be patient as demand scales up.