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Battery Guide Pack

Battery STC Installer Guide Pack

PART 1: INSTALLATION & ELIGIBILITY GUIDE

Table of Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Critical eligibility rules
  3. System requirements
  4. Off-grid battery eligibility
  5. Install limits
  6. SAA exemptions
  7. Serial capture rules
  8. Evidence requirements
  9. Top 10 install mistakes

Overview

The Cheaper Home Batteries Program (CHBP) provides a federal subsidy for eligible battery systems through Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs).

  • ● Applies to systems commissioned on or after 1 July 2025
  • ● Administered by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER)

Critical Eligibility Rules

ℹ️

Commissioning Definition

A system is commissioned when it has been tested to prove it is capable of charging and discharging energy.

  • ● Must be commissioned AFTER PV is commissioned
  • ● Do NOT test battery before PV and return later
  • ● Commissioning date = Certificate of Compliance (CoC)
⚠️ No minimum PV size required ⚠️ Battery must have PV installed at time of commissioning

Audit & Compliance Risk

CER will scrutinise commissioning dates, especially around STC changes.

You must prove:

  • ● Installer onsite on commissioning date
  • ● System operational (charge + discharge)
  • ● All evidence dates align

One System Per Premises is Eligible for BSTCs

A premises = typically one electricity meter (NMI)

  • ● 1 meter = 1 battery eligible
  • ● Multiple dwellings, 1 meter = 1 claim only
  • ● Multiple dwellings, multiple NMIs = more than 1 claim
  • ● You must supply evidence that each site is separately metered and billed
  • ● Upload a copy of an electricity bill as evidence

NSW Rule: Currently the ability to claim PRCs for BESS1 (battery installs) has been suspended until further notice and cannot be combined with STC claims.

System Requirements

  • ● 5–100 kWh nominal battery capacity
  • ● The total battery capacity onsite must not exceed 100 kWh at the time of STC claim
  • ● Max 50 kWh usable capacity eligible for STCs
  • ● Create job for complete system capacity; only 50 kWh will be used to calculate STCs

Solar PV Requirements

  • ● There must NOT be more than 100 kW of PV installed onsite at the time of claim
  • ● There is no minimum PV size required to be eligible for battery STCs
  • ● Must be CEC approved equipment

PV Requirement

  • ● Must have existing OR new PV installed
  • ● Battery-only installs where no PV is commissioned are NOT eligible

❌  If no PV onsite → application fails and cannot be recreated

Off-Grid Battery Eligibility

ℹ️

Core Rule

Off-grid battery systems are eligible only when connected to a dwelling that is lived in and has its own solar PV system.

Eligible Off-Grid Dwellings

Additional off-grid batteries may be eligible at the same location (even if another battery has already claimed STCs) where the battery is installed in a separate, lived-in dwelling, such as:

  • ● Tiny home
  • ● Granny flat
  • ● Houseboat
  • ● Caravan

Conditions for Eligibility

All of the following must be met:

  • ● The dwelling is lived in (not a structure)
  • ● The dwelling is separate from the main residence or any dwelling that has already claimed STCs
  • ● The dwelling has its own solar PV system
  • ● The battery will remain installed until:
  • After 2030, OR
  • The end of the warranty period (whichever is later)
  • ● The system meets:
  • Off-grid battery requirements, OR
  • has a VPP-capable inverter
❌

Not Eligible

Structures that are not lived in are not eligible, including:

  • ● Sheds
  • ● Bore pumps
  • ● Utility-only structures

📷 Additional Evidence Requirements

In addition to standard STC evidence, you must provide:

  • ● Clear photos of the dwelling where the battery is installed
  • ● A map showing:
  • The location of the dwelling
  • Location of the main residence or other dwellings with battery claims
  • Locations of any other dwellings claiming STCs

For mobile dwellings (e.g. caravans, houseboats):

  • ● Map must show primary parked/moored location
  • ● Provide vehicle or hull identification number

Install Limits

2 installs per day:

  • ● 2 Solar PV only installs
  • ● 2 battery-only installs (with existing PV already onsite)
  • ● 1 Solar PV and 1 Battery install
⚠️ Applies even at the same address.

SAA Exemptions

SAA exemptions fall into two distinct categories. It is critical you apply the correct type.

1. Standard Exemption – Multiple Sites per Address

Used when installing multiple systems at the same street address if more than 2 systems may be commissioned in one day where each system is associated with:

  • ● Different unit numbers, OR
  • ● Different lot numbers

This is a standard SAA exemption.

📄  Full requirements and application process →

Key requirements:

  • ● Must apply BEFORE installation commences
  • ● Applies to multi-dwelling or multi-site installations at same address
  • ● Approval must be uploaded with STC application in Formbay

2. Special Consideration Exemption – Staged Installs

Applies only to staged installations conducted between 1 July 2025 – 22 December 2025.

  • ● Must apply for special consideration through SAA
  • ● Cost: $350 per application
  • ● Must provide approval with STC submission in Formbay

📄  Application details →
⚠️

Important Rules

  • ● You must apply before the install commences (standard exemption)
  • ● You must upload approval documentation to submit STCs in Formbay
  • ● Without approval, applications may be rejected or unable to be processed

Serial Capture Rules

⚠️  Always ensure you capture the Inverter nameplate, Battery master nameplate, and all Battery module nameplates to reduce risk of return to site.

System Type What to Scan
All-in-One Systems 1 serial only = Inverter, master, and module
Modular with in-built inverter Inverter = master; scan all modules
Separate systems Inverter (existing or new) + BMU/BCU = master + scan all modules
BMU with capacity
(e.g. FOXESS and ENERGIZER)		 Scan as both master and module
Tesla Expansion Scan lead unit as Inverter, master and module; scan any additional modules.
** Adding to an existing system — create job as "Adding modules to existing system"

Evidence Requirements

📷 Required Photos

  • ● Start photo
  • ● Mid-install photo
  • ● Completion photo

✅ Photos Must Show

  • ● Installer onsite
  • ● System installed
  • ● Nameplates and serials
⚠️

Sigenergy Notes

  • ● Scan the QR code that corresponds to the SN (Serial Number)
  • ● Do NOT scan QR codes located on the opposite side of modules
  • ● You must capture a clear module nameplate photo
  • ● Only CEC-approved Sigenergy configurations are eligible
  • ● Always verify the full system configuration against the approved product list before submission
Sigenergy QR code under SN

Top 10 Install Mistakes

1

Commissioning battery before PV

2

Testing battery early and returning later

3

Missing or incorrect serial numbers

4

Scanning wrong QR codes (Sigenergy)

5

No installer evidence on commissioning date

6

Mismatched CoC and install dates

7

Battery installed with no PV onsite

8

Incorrect system configuration listed

9

Not applying for SAA exemption before install

10

Poor quality photos — nameplates unreadable

⚠️

Final Reminder

If a job fails due to eligibility issues:

  • ● It may NOT be able to be recreated
  • ● Installer may need to return to site

Accuracy at install time is critical.

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