Quick answer
A home battery loan is finance used to buy and install a household battery, often alongside rooftop solar. The federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program gives eligible batteries a discount of roughly 30 percent off the upfront cost through small-scale technology certificates. Ownright Custom Finance can look at funding options Australia-wide for the remaining cost.
Key points
- Eligible batteries attract a federal discount at the time of purchase
- The discount is built from certificates and reduces over time
- Funding options include unsecured loans, secured loans and home equity
- Compare total cost and likely savings before borrowing
- Suits
- Households with rooftop solar, or planning it, who want to store energy
- Security
- Unsecured, or secured against the home or the system
- Discount
- Federal certificates, usually applied upfront by the installer
- Australia-wide
- Yes
How do home battery loans work?
A home battery stores electricity, typically from rooftop solar, so you can use it in the evening or during peak-price periods. A home battery loan simply pays for it, with repayments spread over a term rather than a lump sum on installation day.
The funding can be an unsecured personal loan, a secured loan, or a top-up to an existing home loan. The right one depends on the cost of the system, your income and equity, and how long you want to be repaying. We cover the options below.
What is the Cheaper Home Batteries Program?
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program is a federal scheme administered by the Clean Energy Regulator. Eligible batteries earn small-scale technology certificates. You can assign the certificates to a registered agent or your installer, who reduces the price you pay upfront, or you can handle them yourself. The certificate rate is set to deliver roughly a 30 percent discount on upfront costs.
Points the regulator publishes at the time of writing include:
- Batteries must be between 5 and 100 kilowatt hours of nominal capacity, and certificates apply to the first 50 kilowatt hours of usable capacity.
- The battery must be on the Clean Energy Council approved list, installed by an accredited installer with a battery endorsement, and installed with a new or existing solar system.
- Grid-connected batteries must be able to join a virtual power plant.
- The number of certificates per kilowatt hour steps down on a published schedule, with a reduction from May 2026 and further reductions every six months towards 2030.
Rules can change, so confirm the current details on the Clean Energy Regulator website and on your installer’s quote.
Who uses battery loans?
- Households with rooftop solar who are sending a lot of power back to the grid
- Homeowners installing solar and a battery together
- Families with high evening power use
- People wanting backup power during outages
- Landlords improving a property’s energy performance
If you do not yet have solar, solar panel loans may be the first step. For wider upgrades, see home electrification loans.
How can a battery be funded?
| Option | Often suits | Things to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Unsecured personal loan | Moderate costs; no mortgage involved | Shorter terms, so higher repayments |
| Secured loan | Larger costs; weaker credit; longer terms | The security is at risk if you default |
| Home loan top-up | People with equity in an existing home loan | Long term can make total interest large; see home loan top-ups |
| Refinance and release equity | Bundling battery costs with other goals | See cash-out refinance |
| Part of a bigger project | Battery as part of renovations or electrification | See renovation loans |
Our guide to secured versus unsecured personal loans explains the difference in more depth.
What do lenders look at?
- Income and living costs. Can you comfortably manage the repayments?
- Credit history. Defaults, arrears and enquiries all matter. Read how to improve your credit score.
- The quote. A clear installer quote showing the battery, installation and discount.
- Existing debts. Credit cards, loans and buy-now-pay-later accounts.
- Security. The home or equipment, if the loan is secured.
- Stability. Employment and residency.
How does Ownright approach battery finance?
Ownright Custom Finance is a solutions-first broker. Trevor Scott has more than 40 years in finance, and the team arranges personal, home, private and asset finance Australia-wide. We do not sell batteries or recommend a brand; you pick your installer. Our job is to look at your income, equity and goals, and show you funding structures that fit.
If a lender has said no because of credit history, self-employed income or a complicated situation, we look at other lenders and secured options. We do not promise approval, and timing depends on the lender, the security and how quickly your documents arrive.
An illustration
Illustrative scenario only. A family has had rooftop solar for several years and sends most of their daytime generation back to the grid. They want a battery before summer. The installer’s quote shows the certificate discount already deducted. The remaining cost is more than their savings, and they would rather not use a credit card. We compare a personal loan, a small top-up to their home loan and a staged approach. They weigh monthly cost, total cost and risk, then pick the structure that suits their budget.
Mistakes to avoid
- Counting on a discount you have not confirmed. Check eligibility and the current certificate rate on the quote.
- Buying more capacity than you need. Match the battery to your usage, not the biggest on offer.
- Ignoring the true cost of long loans. A low repayment spread over many years can cost far more overall.
- Not checking installer accreditation. The program requires accredited installers and approved products.
- Applying without paperwork. Review what documents you need for a loan first.
What documents help?
- The installer’s written quote, including the discount
- Recent payslips or, if self-employed, tax returns and BAS
- Bank statements and details of existing debts
- Details of your property and any existing mortgage
Where does this connect to other green finance?
Some households combine batteries with induction cooking, heat pumps and an electric car; see EV car loans and energy-efficient upgrade loans. Those planning a broader eco upgrade at purchase time can read about green home loans.
How do I work out whether a battery stacks up?
Begin with your solar output and usage. A battery earns its keep by storing surplus daytime generation for use at night, when grid power costs more. If you already use most of your solar during the day, a battery adds less. If you export a lot, it can add more.
Check your tariff too. Households on time-of-use pricing or with low export payments are often better placed to benefit than those on a flat tariff. Some retailers also offer programs for batteries that join a virtual power plant; terms vary, so read them carefully.
Then look at the net price after the certificate discount, plus installation and any switchboard work. Ask the installer to model your savings using your actual bills, and compare the result with the cost of borrowing over the loan term.
Also think about timing. Because the certificate rate steps down on a published schedule, the discount available changes over the years. That shouldn’t push you into a purchase you are unsure about, but it is a fact worth including in your thinking. Once you know the numbers, we can compare funding structures and help you pick one that suits your budget.
Ready to store your own power?
Sounds like you’re looking for a home battery loan. We’re the lending experts in funding household energy upgrades, even when a lender has said no, so click the button below and see if you qualify.
How it works, step by step
- 1
Step 1
Get a quote from an accredited installer showing the battery, installation and the certificate discount.
- 2
Step 2
Send us the quote and a few details about your income, property and debts.
- 3
Step 3
We compare unsecured, secured and equity-based ways to fund the remaining cost.
- 4
Step 4
Funds are arranged, usually paid to the installer, and the battery is installed.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Cheaper Home Batteries Program work?
Eligible batteries earn small-scale technology certificates, which an installer or agent can apply as an upfront discount, set to be roughly 30 percent of the cost. The battery must be on the approved list, installed by an accredited installer, and connected with a solar system. Check the Clean Energy Regulator for current rules.
Does the battery discount change over time?
Yes. The number of certificates per kilowatt hour steps down on a set schedule, which the regulator publishes. A change took effect in May 2026, and further reductions follow every six months through to 2030. Timing a purchase around those steps may matter, so ask your installer about the current discount.
Do I need solar panels to get the battery discount?
The program requires the battery to be installed with a solar system, whether an existing one or a new one, within the program's size limits. If you do not yet have solar, you may be looking at both together. See our solar panel loans page for how that can be funded.
Is a battery worth borrowing for?
It depends on your power use, tariffs, solar output and the net price after the discount. Run the numbers using installer estimates and your own bills. Remember loan costs on top of the price. We can help you compare funding structures, though the decision on whether a battery pays off is yours.
Can I include a battery in my home loan?
Sometimes, through a top-up or refinance, or as part of renovation funding. That spreads the cost over a long term, which lowers the repayment but can increase the total cost. We explain the pros and cons so you can choose what suits your goals.
What if I have a poor credit history?
Options narrow but do not always vanish. Some lenders look beyond the credit file, particularly with secured options. Expect closer questions and possibly different terms. Check your report first. We can look at what is available without promising an outcome.