What published studies found in 2026
| Source | Case | Payback |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Choice | 13.8 kWh battery, about $10,620 installed after rebate | about 8 years |
| Why Solar | 13.5 kWh, $10,500 after rebate, $1,478 saved a year | 7.1 years |
| Ausolarmate | 13 to 15 kWh, $12,000 to $16,500 installed | 8 to 11 years (average use), 6 to 9 years (high evening use) |
When a battery pays back faster
- You use a lot of power in the evening and at night.
- Your feed-in tariff is low. Feed-in tariffs were mostly 3 to 10 c/kWh in 2026, against grid prices around 30 to 35 c/kWh (Energy Matters).
- You install before a rebate cut. The next one is on 1 January 2027 (see what you lose).
- You join a virtual power plant that pays you, or your state adds its own rebate (by state).
When it may not be worth it yet
If you are rarely home in the evening and your feed-in tariff is high, the battery stores little that you would otherwise buy. Batteries usually carry a 10-year warranty, so a payback well beyond 10 years is a warning sign.
Before you get quotes: the 7-point checklist