One of the most common requests we get now is solar and a battery together. It makes sense: one install, one inverter, one network application, and the battery rebate applies on the same invoice as the solar discount. The catch is that "package" pricing online is often built to look cheap rather than to be comparable.
How much is a solar and battery package on the Sunshine Coast?
As at August 2026, a typical solar and battery package on the Sunshine Coast costs about $12,240 to $15,240 for 6.6 kW of solar with a 5 kWh battery, and about $15,480 to $18,980 for 6.6 kW with a 10 kWh battery, after the federal STC discount and the battery rebate. A 10 kW system with a 10 kWh battery comes to about $18,480 to $22,980. Our standard worked example, 6.6 kW plus 10 kWh, lands around $16,980 out of pocket. Switchboard condition, cable runs and backup wiring are what move a job within those ranges.
Last updated: 26 October 2026. Prices are Sunshine Coast installed bands as at August 2026. The battery rebate figures use the rate in force since 1 May 2026, which steps down every six months.
Four typical solar and battery packages, with the rebate deducted
These combos are built straight from our published installed bands. The solar price already has the STC discount taken off. The battery price is shown before the federal Cheaper Home Batteries rebate, then the rebate is deducted.
| Package | Solar, installed (STC deducted) | Battery, installed (before rebate) | Battery rebate (approx.) | Total out of pocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.6 kW + 5 kWh | $5,000 to $7,000 | $8,500 to $9,500 | about −$1,260 | about $12,240 to $15,240 |
| 6.6 kW + 10 kWh | $5,000 to $7,000 | $13,000 to $14,500 | about −$2,520 | about $15,480 to $18,980 |
| 10 kW + 10 kWh | $8,000 to $11,000 | $13,000 to $14,500 | about −$2,520 | about $18,480 to $22,980 |
| 10 kW + 15 kWh | $8,000 to $11,000 | $17,500 to $19,500 | about −$3,679 | about $21,821 to $26,821 |
How the totals are worked out, using the 6.6 kW + 10 kWh row: the low end is $5,000 + $13,000 − $2,520 = $15,480, and the high end is $7,000 + $14,500 − $2,520 = $18,980.
Two honest caveats. First, these are bands added together, not quotes. A combined install usually runs on a single hybrid inverter, so the real number for your house depends on the inverter, the switchboard and how much backup you want, which is why we price every package individually. Second, the rebate on the 15 kWh row is lower per kWh, because capacity above 14 kWh earns 60% of the full rate (14 × $252 = $3,528, plus 1 × $151.20, for about $3,679).
The worked example
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 6.6 kW solar, installed, STC discount already deducted | about $6,000 |
| 10 kWh battery, installed, before rebate | about $13,500 |
| Less federal battery rebate on 10 kWh | about −$2,520 |
| Total out of pocket | about $16,980 |
That's the middle of each band on a standard single-storey Sunshine Coast home. If you want the battery numbers on their own, our guide to solar battery cost on the Sunshine Coast breaks them down by size, and solar panel cost on the Sunshine Coast does the same for panels.
How much is a 10kW solar system with a battery?
On the Sunshine Coast, as at August 2026, a 10 kW system with a 10 kWh battery comes to about $18,480 to $22,980 after both rebates, and with a 15 kWh battery about $21,821 to $26,821. The 10 kW solar part is $8,000 to $11,000 installed with the STC discount already off.
Ten kilowatts is where we'd usually start the conversation for a household planning a battery. A battery can only store what the panels have spare, and a 6.6 kW array often struggles to cover the house and fill a 10 kWh battery on short winter days. If your evening use sits at the top of the typical 8 to 16 kWh range, or there's an EV or pool in the picture, 10 kW gives the battery something to work with.
Which package suits which household?
Size the battery from your evening and overnight use, roughly 4pm to 7am, not from your daily total.
| Household | Package we'd usually start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Couple or small household, low evening use | 6.6 kW + 5 kWh | Covers the evening shoulder without paying for idle storage |
| Typical family home | 6.6 kW + 10 kWh | The size we quote most; covers a normal evening |
| Family with ducted air or a pool, or home during the day | 10 kW + 10 kWh | Enough surplus to fill the battery year-round |
| Large home, EV or heavy overnight load | 10 kW + 15 kWh | Bigger battery needs a bigger array to fill it |
Oversizing is the most common mistake we see on other quotes. A 20 kWh battery on a 6.6 kW array will sit half-empty, and the rebate tapers off above 14 kWh. Our post on more solar panels or a bigger battery covers where the next dollar is best spent.
Is a solar and battery package worth it?
For homes that use a fair amount of power after dark, usually yes. A typical Sunshine Coast home with solar only uses 30 to 50% of what it generates; the rest goes to the grid at roughly 3 to 12 cents a kWh, and comes back at night at roughly 25 to 35 cents at peak. A well-sized battery lifts self-consumption to roughly 80 to 90%.
Solar and battery together typically save up to around $2,500 a year. On the worked example, $16,980 against those savings gives a payback of roughly 7 to 14 years, depending mostly on how much power you use in the evening. Anyone promising a guaranteed three-year payback is selling, not calculating.
It's a weaker case if you're out all day and use little power at night, if you're on a legacy high feed-in tariff you'd lose by changing the system, or if you're selling within a couple of years.
What a package deal can hide
"Solar battery deals" advertised with one headline price are where most of the comparison problems start. Here's what to check.
Brand swaps. Look for the words "or equivalent" next to the panel, inverter or battery. That lets the seller fit whatever's cheapest on the day. A proper quote names the exact model numbers.
Usable vs nameplate capacity. The rebate, and what you actually get to use, is based on usable kWh. A battery sold as "10 kWh" may have a lower usable figure. Check the usable number on the quote and on the Clean Energy Council approved list. Listings can be suspended, as our Neovolt battery review explains.
Switchboard extras. An older board often needs work before it can take solar and a battery. If the package doesn't mention the switchboard, ask whether it's been looked at. Otherwise it turns up as a variation on install day.
Export-limited designs. Energex sets how much your system can export, and that's confirmed when the installer applies, before the install. A package that quotes a big array without mentioning the network application, or quietly designs to a tight export limit, can earn less than the sales pitch suggests.
Backup that isn't included. Not every battery package includes blackout backup. If storm backup matters to you, and on the Sunshine Coast it often does, ask which circuits are backed up and whether that wiring is in the price.
VPP lock-ins. To get the federal rebate the battery must be VPP-ready, but you don't have to join a Virtual Power Plant. Some deals are discounted on condition you join a particular retailer's program. If so, read the term, the exit conditions and how much battery control you hand over.
Stale rebate figures. The battery rebate steps down every six months. Make sure the quote uses the rate for your installation date, itemised as its own line.
Who installs. A low package price sometimes means a subcontract crew you'll never see again. Ask who will be on your roof and who comes out in year five.
What our packages include
When we quote solar and a battery together, it's a written quote with:
- Exact panel, inverter and battery model numbers, and usable kWh
- The STC discount and the battery rebate as separate lines
- Switchboard work, if needed, priced up front
- The circuits that will be backed up, and on which phase
- The Energex connection application, done by us
- Manufacturer warranties plus our own 10-year workmanship warranty, with no subcontractors
You can see the brands we fit and how a battery install runs on our battery installation on the Sunshine Coast page. When you're ready to price a package on your own roof, request a free solar and battery quote and send a recent power bill so we can size from your evening use.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a solar and battery package?
On the Sunshine Coast, as at August 2026, about $12,240 to $15,240 for 6.6 kW of solar with a 5 kWh battery and about $15,480 to $18,980 for 6.6 kW with a 10 kWh battery, after the STC discount and the federal battery rebate. Our standard worked example, 6.6 kW plus 10 kWh, comes to about $16,980.
How much does a 10kW solar system with a battery cost?
About $18,480 to $22,980 with a 10 kWh battery, or about $21,821 to $26,821 with a 15 kWh battery, installed on the Sunshine Coast as at August 2026 with both rebates deducted. Phase supply, inverter choice and switchboard work move it within those ranges.
Is it cheaper to buy solar and a battery together?
Usually it's more efficient. A new combined install typically runs on one hybrid inverter, with one network application and one install visit, rather than a second inverter later. The rebates are the same whether you buy together or add the battery later, but the battery rebate steps down every six months, so the timing matters.
Are solar battery deals worth it?
Some are. Judge a deal on exact model numbers, usable kWh, itemised rebates, switchboard and backup wiring, VPP conditions and who installs it. A headline price that leaves those out isn't comparable to a full quote. Our guide to how to compare solar quotes has a worksheet for it.
Do I have to join a VPP to get the battery rebate?
No. The battery must be VPP-ready and installed by an accredited installer to qualify for the federal rebate, but joining a Virtual Power Plant is your choice. Some package deals bundle a VPP; read the terms before you accept the discount.
