Battery Rewards vs Solar Export Rewards: What's the Difference?

If you've been researching home batteries in Perth, you've probably encountered both "Battery Rewards" and "Solar Export Rewards" mentioned on Synergy's website. Many people assume they're the same thing - or slightly different names for one program.

They're not. They're two distinct programs with different purposes, different eligibility requirements, and different payment structures. Here's how to understand them.

The quick version

Battery Rewards: getting paid for peak demand support

Battery Rewards is Synergy's Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program for battery owners. Here's what actually happens:

How it works

1. You sign up to the program and your installer registers the battery at commissioning
2. Synergy monitors grid conditions in real-time
3. During high demand periods - typically very hot or very cold days, when heating and cooling load peaks - Synergy triggers an "activation event". You are not notified beforehand, and you cannot pick which events to join
4. Your battery is held and charged through a standby window of roughly two hours, then discharges to the grid for about two to four hours
5. You receive VPP credits at 70¢ per kWh exported

The numbers

The 70¢/kWh rate is high, and that is genuine. For comparison:

• Standard DEBS peak rate: 10¢/kWh
• Self-consumption savings: ~32¢/kWh
• Battery Rewards: 70¢/kWh

For any battery, event earnings are the Battery Rewards rate multiplied by exported kWh during activations. Annual earnings depend on how many events Synergy calls and how much charge is available when they occur.

When events happen

Events are most common during:

• Very hot or very cold days - when residential heating or cooling load peaks
• The 3pm-9pm window - when solar production drops but demand stays high
• Summer heatwaves and winter cold snaps - both drive the peaks Synergy is managing

Synergy does not notify you before an activation event. Events and the credits they earn appear on your quarterly activity statement, and the credit is applied to your next bill.

What you don't control

This is important to understand: during an activation event, Synergy controls your battery discharge, not you. Your battery will export to the grid regardless of your household's needs at that moment.

In practice, events rarely cause problems - they typically last 1-3 hours during periods when most households don't need much battery power anyway. But if you regularly need your full battery capacity during late afternoon peaks (home-based business, EV charging, etc.), this is worth considering.

Solar Export Rewards: dynamic export limits

Solar Export Rewards is fundamentally different. It's about how much your solar panels can export, not your battery.

The background

Traditionally, WA solar systems were limited to 5kW export. This prevented grid voltage problems but meant larger systems often had excess production curtailed.

Solar Export Rewards (part of the Tier 2 registration) replaces this fixed limit with a dynamic limit that adjusts based on what the grid can handle.

How it works

1. Your system connects to Synergy's network management system
2. Instead of a fixed 5kW cap, your export limit varies in real-time
3. When the grid has capacity (lower demand, good conditions), your limit increases
4. When the grid is stressed, your limit decreases

What this means practically

On a mild spring day with low demand, you might be able to export 8kW or more. On a stressed summer afternoon, you might be limited to 3kW.

The key point: there's no direct payment for Solar Export Rewards. You still earn the standard DEBS feed-in rate (10¢/kWh peak, 2¢/kWh off-peak) for what you export. The benefit is that you can potentially export more than you could with a fixed 5kW limit.

Who benefits most

Solar Export Rewards matters most if you have:

• A larger solar array (6kW+) that regularly exceeds 5kW production
• Good roof orientation with peak production during sunny periods
• Lower daytime self-consumption

If your system rarely hits 5kW anyway, or if you have a battery capturing excess production, Solar Export Rewards has less impact on your economics.

How they work together

Here's where it gets interesting: you can participate in both programs simultaneously.

During a Battery Rewards activation event, you earn:

• 70¢/kWh from VPP credits for what your battery exports
• Plus DEBS feed-in rate (10¢/kWh peak) for the same export

And your solar can continue exporting at its dynamic limit, earning DEBS rates independently.

Eligibility requirements

Both programs require Tier 2 registration, which means:

• Equipment on Synergy's Supported Solutions List (SSL)
• Reliable internet connection (95% uptime requirement)
• Communication capability with Synergy's utility server

For Battery Rewards

• SSL-listed battery system
• Hybrid inverter or gateway device for communication
• Synergy residential customer on an eligible tariff: Home Plan (A1), Home Business Plan (K1), Midday Saver, or the Electric Vehicle Add On
• No life-support equipment registered at the premises, and no other VPP program

For Solar Export Rewards

• SSL-listed inverter
• Same internet and communication requirements
• Works with or without a battery

The enrollment process

Battery Rewards: You sign up to the program — your installer handles Tier 2 registration during commissioning. The agreement runs an initial two-year term.

Solar Export Rewards: Also handled during Tier 2 registration. If your equipment is compliant and registered, you're automatically participating.

Which one should you focus on?

If you're installing a battery, both programs are relevant, but Battery Rewards is the bigger factor financially. The VPP credits (modest though they are) add direct income.

If you're only considering solar (no battery), Solar Export Rewards is your relevant program - though its value depends on whether you regularly hit the old 5kW export cap.

Important notes

VPP is required for the WA Battery Scheme

VPP participation (Battery Rewards) has been required since the scheme opened on 1 July 2025 — not since May 2026 — to access:

• WA Battery Scheme rebate ($130/kWh up to $1,300, paid on the first 10 kWh; batteries need at least 5 kWh usable, and larger ones still qualify at the capped maximum)
• The interest-free loan of $2,001 to $10,000 over a three to ten year term, for households with gross annual income under $210,000

So for most new battery installations, Battery Rewards participation isn't really optional.

What if internet drops?

If your system loses connectivity, it reverts to a 1.5kW default export limit until communications are restored. The 5kW figure often quoted alongside DEBS is the generating-capacity ceiling for export eligibility, not an allowance Synergy grants you — what connectivity governs is whether your system can be remotely managed at all. This affects both programs.

SSL compliance matters

Both programs require SSL-listed equipment. At time of writing, major brands like Tesla, BYD, and Enphase are not on the Synergy SSL. Check the current SSL before purchasing.

Summary

Both programs are part of WA's transition to a smarter, more flexible grid. For battery owners, Battery Rewards is the more significant program financially. For solar-only systems, Solar Export Rewards determines how much you can export.

The good news: if you're installing compliant equipment and your installer handles Tier 2 registration properly, you'll automatically be participating in both programs without extra steps.

Learn More About VPP Programs →

Calculate Your Battery Savings →

Check WA Rebate Eligibility →