The Cheaper Home Batteries Program does not have brand-specific rules. Fronius, Huawei and everyone else are assessed against the same checklist, so the useful question is what that checklist asks of you on the day you commission the system.
The requirements that apply to every brand
- The battery has a usable capacity of 5 to 100 kWh, with up to 50 kWh counted toward the discount.
- The battery is a Clean Energy Council approved model, installed with an approved inverter or hybrid inverter.
- The system is VPP-capable (more on that below).
- A Solar Accreditation Australia accredited installer does the work, and one battery is claimed per property.
- It can be paired with new or existing solar.
The factor was 6.8 at the time of writing, stepping down to 5.7 on 1 January 2027 and 5.2 on 1 July 2027. The first 14 kWh counts at 100% of the factor, 14 to 28 kWh at 60% and 28 to 50 kWh at 15%. Use the battery STC calculator to size the claim, and see the battery STCs pillar for the full program summary.
Is Huawei VPP capable?
This is the question installers ask most, and the honest answer is that capability is a property of the installed system, not the logo. The program asks that the battery and inverter together have the technical capability to join a VPP. It does not require a VPP contract. Huawei LUNA2000 batteries appear on the CEC approved battery list, but you should match the exact battery module, hybrid inverter and firmware to the approved listing and to the program’s guidance rather than assuming the whole range qualifies. Our answer on how to prove a battery is VPP-capable walks through the evidence, and the VPP-ready requirement explains what the term means in practice.
Fronius specifics
The Fronius Reserva is CEC approved and pairs with the company’s hybrid inverters. The practical risk is a mismatch: a battery that is approved, paired with an inverter generation that is not part of the approved combination. Photograph the inverter and battery serial labels at install so the pairing is provable later.
Evidence for either brand
Since 1 March 2026 the program has tighter photo and evidence rules for batteries. Capture serial numbers, the installed location, the wiring and isolation, the commissioning screen and the signed customer declaration. Our battery submission guide lists the shots a reviewer expects, and the battery STC assignment form covers the customer paperwork.
From the desk: Most rejected battery claims we see are not brand problems. They are a model number typed slightly differently from the approved listing, or serial photos that cannot be read. Check both before you lodge.
What this means for installers
Treat Fronius and Huawei jobs like any other: confirm the model on the approved list on the day of install, record the inverter pairing, and keep the evidence set complete before you lodge. If you sell on a point-of-sale discount, the STC value you pass to the customer is only as good as the claim that backs it. Energy Merchants’ compliance desk pre-checks each claim, and the current rates are on pricing. You can start trading once your paperwork is ready.