Battery payback calculator
By My Energy Mate Editorial · Last updated
Quick Answer
A home battery pays back in 5 to 8 years for most Australian households in 2026 once the federal rebate is applied: every kWh shifted from a near-zero feed-in tariff to evening self-use earns the full grid rate. Enter your numbers for a personalised estimate.
Federal rebate
−A$4,455
≈A$330/kWh, net cost A$8,545
Annual saving
A$1,533
12.0 kWh/day shifted from 3c export to 38c self-use
Simple payback
5.6 years
Against a 10-year warranty
Assumes the battery fills from your solar surplus daily and 5% is held in reserve. Excludes degradation, tariff changes and the time value of money — treat as a first-order estimate.
Frequently asked questions
What payback should I expect from a battery in 2026?
A correctly sized battery typically pays back in 5-8 years with the federal rebate applied, faster in states with extra incentives (WA, NT) or on wholesale/VPP tariffs.
What matters more, battery size or price?
Fit. A battery you fill and empty daily earns its full rate every night; oversized capacity cycles shallow and earns nothing on the unused portion. Match usable kWh to your evening-and-overnight usage.
Does the calculator include the federal rebate?
Yes. It deducts roughly A$330 per usable kWh (the 2026 Cheaper Home Batteries rate) from your entered installed cost before computing payback.