Battery installation
Solar battery installation: what to expect
Whether you're adding a battery to existing solar or installing solar and a battery together, here's the typical path from quote to switch-on. Timeframes vary by installer, network and location.
The battery installation process
Step 1: Assessment and quote
The installer looks at your bills, your existing solar (if you have it), your switchboard and where the battery could go, then recommends a battery size and setup.
Step 2: Network approval
Your electricity network usually has to approve the battery before it's connected. In South East Queensland, Energex must approve every solar and battery system before it's installed. Your installer normally applies.
Step 3: Installation day
The battery, any new inverter and the wiring are installed by a licensed electrician. Switchboard upgrades or backup wiring can add time, so ask how long your installation will take.
Step 4: Commissioning
The system is set up and tested, including any backup function and the monitoring app. If you plan to join a virtual power plant, ask whether the installer sets that up.
Step 5: Handover
You should receive the compliance paperwork, warranty details and a walkthrough of how the battery charges, discharges and behaves in a blackout.
Adding a battery to existing solar, or installing both together
Adding to existing solar
If your current inverter can't run a battery, the usual options are a battery with its own inverter (AC-coupled) or replacing your inverter with a hybrid. Your network's limits on total inverter size can affect which option fits.
New solar and battery together
One hybrid inverter can run both the panels and the battery. It's tidy for a new install, and a battery-ready system makes adding a battery later simpler.
Requirements for the federal battery discount
For a battery to get the federal Cheaper Home Batteries discount, the Clean Energy Regulator requires that it:
- is on the Clean Energy Council's approved battery list;
- is installed by a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) accredited installer with a battery endorsement, to the battery installation standard AS/NZS 5139;
- is installed with a new or existing solar system; and
- is technically capable of joining a virtual power plant if it's connected to the grid (you don't have to join one).
Questions to ask about the installation
- Where will the battery be mounted, and does that location meet the installation standard?
- Will it provide backup in a blackout, and which circuits will it cover?
- Does the quote include any switchboard upgrade, new inverter or meter change?
- Who applies for network approval, and what export limit will apply?
- How has the federal discount been calculated and applied to the price?
- Who handles warranty claims, and is the installer's own workmanship covered?
Sources
Facts on this page were checked on 2 October 2026. Rules and programs change, so confirm details with your installer.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a solar battery installation take?
The installation itself is often done in a day, but switchboard upgrades, backup wiring or a new inverter can add time. Network approval has to come before installation, so allow for that in the overall timeframe.
Who can install a solar battery?
Battery installations involve electrical work, so they must be done by a licensed electrician. To get the federal battery discount, the installer must also be accredited by Solar Accreditation Australia with a battery endorsement.
Do I need new solar panels to add a battery?
Not usually. A battery can often be added to an existing solar system, either with its own inverter or by replacing your inverter with a hybrid. Whether you'd benefit from more panels depends on how much spare solar you have to charge the battery.
Compare solar battery installation quotes
Talk to participating installers who service your area.
Get battery quotes