30 Mar 2026
The Cheaper Home Battery program has seen over 200,000 battery systems installed in homes, small businesses and farms in Australia, providing a storage capacity of nearly 5 GWh.
Battery storage is a more common consideration with Queensland producers particularly in regional and SWER-connected areas where farms are looking for ways to improve reliability, manage peak electricity demand and make better use of on-farm solar.
QFF on-farm energy assessments have shown that batteries are increasingly being explored as part of broader farm energy strategies alongside solar and energy efficiency upgrades, particularly where farms are exporting solar energy with declining feed-in-tariffs
Some of these examples are captured as case studies on the Queensland Ag Energy Hub.
Mixed sheep and cattle property (Central West Queensland)
A Central West Queensland sheep and cattle operation already had a 10 kW solar system with a 10 kWh battery at the time of the energy audit. It was generally a small energy user, using around 32,000 kWh of electricity per year.
The audit recommended several low-cost improvements with short payback periods, including replacing cold room door seals, installing a timer to run hot water systems during daylight hours when solar energy is available, and upgrading halogen lighting.
The farm implemented several of the recommended upgrades, including increased battery storage capacity, a solar-powered pumping system, cold room improvements, and replacement of an ageing air conditioning unit. Combined with other efficiency upgrades, these changes are expected to significantly reduce grid electricity use while improving how energy is managed across the farm.
The audit calculated a payback period of around 10 years for the battery. However, since the audit was completed, the Home Battery Rebate program, which should significantly reduce the capital cost of the battery, has been announced. Read the case study here.
Intensive livestock operation (Gatton region)
At a Gatton piggery, a large-scale system including solar PV and battery storage was assessed to significantly reduce grid electricity use and improve energy self-sufficiency.
Modelling showed the system could make the site almost energy neutral, with significant reductions in both energy use and operating costs.However, the analysis also highlighted current economic constraints, with the proposed battery system having a long payback period (around 18 years) and therefore not recommended at this stage. This reflects a common outcome across many farms: while battery storage can offer strong technical benefits, the business case depends on site-specific factors and current technology costs.
Growing interest in battery systems
The Australian Government announced the Cheaper Home Battery Program in 2025 with discounts of up to 30% available at the time of purchase for new batteries.
Details of the program are here: Cheaper Home Batteries Program | energy.gov.au
Read the Ag Energy Hub article here.
Building energy capability in agriculture
As interest in battery systems grows, it’s important that producers have access to clear and practical information about how these technologies work and where they may suit different farm operations.
The TAFE Centre of Excellence Clean Energy Batteries is currently running a national pilot of funded online micro-credentials focused on battery fundamentals and safety. Enrol here.
In parallel, QFF is developing an energy literacy micro-credential for agriculture designed to help producers better understand topics such as electricity tariffs, peak demand, farm load profiles, and how to assess energy proposals. Find out more here.
Energy Information Service for Landholders
For help with energy matters and updates, contact The Energy Information Service for Landholders, a free phone service for farmers and landholders in Queensland.
The service is available Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 5pm and can assist by providing information and guidance on a range of energy matters.
Call 07 3329 7500 to access the service today.