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Learning hub

Battery sizing for Australian homes

Size your battery to run on stored solar through the evening, not grid power

On this page

  • Understanding your energy usage
  • Key sizing factors
  • Australian-specific considerations
Battery Guide
Battery Sage, WattMate's battery specialist — a WattForce brand character
Explained by Battery Sage, WattMate's battery specialist
About WattForce expertsAn illustrated WattMate expert persona — a brand character voicing our team's real WA solar experience, not a real person.
Quick battery size estimator

10-13.5kWh

Small household

  • • 1-2 people
  • • 15-25kWh daily usage
  • • Minimal evening load
  • • 6.6kW solar system

13.5-20kWh

Average household

  • • 3-4 people
  • • 25-35kWh daily usage
  • • Moderate evening load
  • • 8-10kW solar system

20-30kWh+

Large household

  • • 5+ people
  • • 35-50kWh+ daily usage
  • • High evening load
  • • 10-13kW solar system

Understanding your energy usage

Step 1: check your daily consumption

Look at your electricity bill or smart meter data to find your average daily usage in kWh. This is the foundation for sizing your battery.

Typical Australian household usage:

  • • Small (1-2 people): 15-25 kWh/day
  • • Medium (3-4 people): 25-35 kWh/day
  • • Large (5+ people): 35-50+ kWh/day

Step 2: identify your evening usage

The key to battery sizing is understanding how much energy you use when the sun isn't shining (typically 5pm-7am). This is what your battery needs to cover.

Rule of thumb:

Evening/night usage is typically 50-70% of your total daily consumption. For a household using 30kWh/day, that's 15-21kWh overnight.

Key sizing factors

Depth of discharge (DoD)

Most lithium batteries can safely discharge to 90-95% of their capacity. A 13.5kWh battery with 90% DoD provides 12.15kWh of usable energy.

Example: Tesla's Powerwall 3 is rated at 13.5kWh of usable capacity with 90% DoD.

⚠ Powerwall 3 is not eligible for the WA Residential Battery Scheme rebate. Its integrated inverter is not on Synergy's Supported Solutions List. To claim the $130/kWh state rebate, choose a CEC-approved battery that appears on the Synergy SSL.

Solar system size

Your battery should be matched to your solar system size. A larger solar system can charge a bigger battery during the day.

Recommended ratios:

  • • 6.6kW solar → 10-13.5kWh battery
  • • 8-10kW solar → 13.5-20kWh battery
  • • 10-13kW solar → 20-30kWh battery
Backup power requirements

If you want backup power during blackouts, consider which appliances you need to run and for how long.

Essential loads (typical):

  • • Fridge: 1-2 kWh/day
  • • Lights: 0.5-1 kWh/day
  • • Internet/TV: 0.5 kWh/day
  • • Phone charging: 0.1 kWh/day

A 13.5kWh battery can power essential loads for 3-5 days during an outage

A home battery is not a UPS. Switching to backup power takes a moment, so it must not be relied on for life-support equipment. If someone in your home depends on powered medical equipment, tell your installer and your electricity network operator.

Australian-specific considerations

Sizing around the WA battery rebate

The WA State rebate provides $130 per kWh, capped at $1,300 (10kWh maximum) for eligible Synergy customers. Above 10kWh, additional capacity earns no extra state rebate — only federal STCs:

  • 5kWh: $650 rebate
  • 10kWh: $1,300 rebate (maximum)
  • 20kWh+: still $1,300 (capped) — extra capacity only earns federal STCs

Time-of-use tariffs

If you're on a Synergy time-of-use tariff, a battery can shift your usage out of the expensive evening peak and into cheaper off-peak periods, on top of your solar self-consumption.

Virtual power plants (VPPs)

Schemes like Synergy's Battery Rewards let your battery join grid services and earn you extra income, which can shorten your payback period.

Want a hand with this?

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Get a personalised battery recommendation

Our battery sizing calculator reads your usage patterns and recommends a battery size for your home

Try the sizing calculatorGet a personalised quote
Not sure where to start? Get a free home energy assessment — or see a sample report first.
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More from the learning hub

WA residential battery scheme

Combined state + federal battery rebates, VPP requirements, and how to apply.

Synergy tariffs and DEBS explained

How Synergy's Home Plan and Midday Saver tariffs and the DEBS feed-in scheme shape the solar and battery decision in WA.

How to fix a high electricity bill after solar

The common reasons solar homes still see a high bill, and how to fix them.

Battery sizing guide for Australian homes | WattMate Learning Hub