The Panda Power Blog
Plain-English guides to solar, batteries, EV charging and rebates for Australian homes and businesses that want their power working for them.
Latest articles
Pinned · Battery rebate 2026
The federal discount is 6.8 STCs per usable kWh for batteries installed by 31 December 2026, then 5.7 from 1 January 2027 and 5.2 from 1 July 2027. The date that counts is your electrical compliance certificate, not your contract.
Home batteries from $6,999 to about $15,999
Base price for a standard install, after government rebates, inc GST, as at October 2026. Additional work such as switchboard upgrades, three-phase changes or complex installs is reviewed and quoted separately.
Days left at 6.8
56 days
to 31 December 2026, Sydney time
Rebates · 4 min read · 3 November 2026
Yes. The federal battery discount falls from 6.8 to 5.7 STCs per kWh on 1 January 2027 and to 5.2 on 1 July 2027. Here is what that means for a typical battery.
Read article →
Rebates · 4 min read · 3 November 2026
To get the 6.8 STC rate your battery must be installed and certified by 31 December 2026. The date that counts is your compliance certificate, not your contract.
Read article →
Rebates · 3 min read · 3 November 2026
How the federal battery discount changes with battery size, worked through for 10, 16, 20, 24 and 30 kWh at the 2026 rate and the 2027 rates.
Read article →
Rebates · 3 min read · 3 November 2026
Waiting for cheaper batteries has a cost: the federal discount steps down on 1 January 2027 and again on 1 July 2027. How to weigh up waiting versus buying now.
Read article →Buying guide · 3 min read · 31 October 2026
Older switchboards can need work before solar or a battery is added. Here is what installers look for, why it matters for safety, and how it's quoted.
Read article →
Rebates · 3 min read · 30 October 2026
The SA Home Battery Scheme is closed, but the federal discount applies in SA and a VPP activity runs under REPS. What SA households can get in 2026.
Read article →Sizing · 3 min read · 29 October 2026
Battery size should follow your evening and overnight use, your spare solar and your budget. Here is how Panda sizes a home battery, step by step.
Read article →
Buying guide · 3 min read · 27 October 2026
Battery quotes vary for real reasons: usable capacity, power, backup, switchboard work, warranties and who installs. How to compare them like for like.
Read article →
EV charging · 3 min read · 24 October 2026
Yes, if the car is home in daylight. Smart chargers can follow your solar output. Here is how solar EV charging works and where a battery fits in.
Read article →
Buying guide · 3 min read · 22 October 2026
For low energy users a battery may not pay off, but a smaller battery or simple changes might. Here is how to tell honestly whether storage suits your home.
Read article →
Batteries · 3 min read · 20 October 2026
Blackout run-time depends on usable battery capacity, what you keep running and whether solar can recharge it. Here is how to estimate it for your home.
Read article →
Buying guide · 3 min read · 17 October 2026
If nobody is home in the day, solar still helps, but timers and storage matter more. Here is how to get value from solar when you are out at work.
Read article →
Rebates · 3 min read · 16 October 2026
The NSW virtual power plant incentive pays you for connecting a home battery to a VPP. Who is eligible, how it is paid, and how it stacks with the federal discount.
Read article →Batteries · 3 min read · 15 October 2026
Most homes can add a battery to existing solar, either with a new hybrid inverter or an AC-coupled battery. Here is how it works and what to check.
Read article →
Buying guide · 3 min read · 13 October 2026
A good solar or battery quote names the exact equipment, sizes, warranties, extra work and who installs it. Use this checklist to compare quotes fairly.
Read article →
Sizing · 3 min read · 10 October 2026
You can often add panels to an existing system, but the inverter, panel matching, rebates and network approval all matter. Here is what to check first.
Read article →
How it works · 3 min read · 8 October 2026
A hybrid inverter runs solar panels and a battery from one box. Here is how it differs from a standard inverter and when you need one.
Read article →
Maintenance · 3 min read · 6 October 2026
Rain cleans most solar panels. Here is when cleaning is worth it, how to tell from your output, and how to do it safely without voiding warranties.
Read article →
Sizing · 3 min read · 3 October 2026
Shade on even part of a panel can cut output across a whole string. Here is how shade affects solar, and how design, optimisers and layout reduce the loss.
Read article →
Buying guide · 3 min read · 2 October 2026
Panels, inverters and batteries each carry different warranties, plus the installer's workmanship warranty. Here is how they work and what to check.
Read article →
Sizing · 3 min read · 1 October 2026
East-west roofs make less at noon but spread solar across the morning and afternoon. Here is when that suits a home, and what to watch for.
Read article →
Sizing · 3 min read · 29 September 2026
The right solar size depends on your daytime use, your evening use, your roof and network limits. Here is how to choose between 6.6kW, 10kW and bigger.
Read article →
Maintenance · 3 min read · 26 September 2026
Check your inverter app, compare sunny days, watch for error codes and read your bill. Here is a simple routine to confirm your solar system is working.
Read article →How it works · 3 min read · 25 September 2026
Most homes are single-phase, some are three-phase. Here is how to tell which you have and how it affects inverter, battery and export choices.
Read article →
How it works · 3 min read · 24 September 2026
The best time to run appliances with solar is the middle of the day. Here is how to time the dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, pool pump and hot water.
Read article →
How it works · 3 min read · 22 September 2026
Feed-in tariffs pay far less than the price of buying power. Here is why retailers pay so little for exports and the practical ways to get more value from solar.
Read article →
How it works · 3 min read · 19 September 2026
A plain guide to the lines on an electricity bill with solar: usage, feed-in credits, supply charges and tariffs, and what each tells you about your system.
Read article →
Buying guide · 3 min read · 18 September 2026
Before a fixed battery quote, an electrician checks your switchboard, battery spot, cabling, solar and backup needs. Here is what they look at and how to prepare.
Read article →How it works · 3 min read · 17 September 2026
Most grid-connected solar systems switch off in a blackout for safety. Here is why, and what it takes to keep power on: a battery with backup.
Read article →
How it works · 3 min read · 15 September 2026
Solar panels still make power on cloudy days, just less of it. Here is what happens to your home's power on grey days and how a battery changes things.
Read article →
How it works · 3 min read · 11 September 2026
Solar power your home doesn't use goes to the grid, and your retailer pays a feed-in credit. Here is how exports work and how to keep more of your own power.
Read article →Batteries · 3 min read · 10 September 2026
Battery quotes can show total or usable kWh. Here is the difference, why it matters for comparing quotes and rebates, and what to ask your installer.
Read article →How it works · 3 min read · 9 September 2026
Solar panels cut what you buy in the day, but evening use, supply charges and low feed-in credits can keep a bill high. Here is how to find the cause.
Read article →No articles match. Try another word or topic.
Recent installs
Every install has its own page with the system, battery brand and photos. Browse installs by area →
32 kWh battery
View project →16.64 kWh battery
View project →7.6 kW solar + 49 kWh battery
View project →
27.12 kWh battery
View project →
10.45 kW solar + 32.24 kWh battery
View project →
33 kWh battery
View project →16.6 kWh battery
View project →
33 kWh battery
View project →Talk to a real person who cares, honest advice for your home or business, no pressure.