Ontario Battery Storage Rebate 2026: $300 per kWh
Home Renovation Savings pays $300 for every kWh of battery storage capacity, up to $5,000 and no more than 50% of the battery cost. There's one catch that decides eligibility, and two very different reasons a battery is worth it. Here's the full picture.
The eligibility rule
A battery only qualifies when it's installed together with a new solar PV system, is appropriately sized to that system, and is primarily intended to store the solar energy it produces — not power from the grid. That means battery-only projects are out, and so is adding a battery to panels you already have. New solar + battery in one project is the eligible combination.
The math, by battery size
The rebate is simply $300 × usable kWh, capped at $5,000 (so capacity above ~16.7 kWh stops adding rebate), and never more than half the battery's cost:
Combined with the solar rebate (up to $5,000), a solar-plus-battery project can reach the $10,000 household maximum. See the main solar guide for the combined cap, or run numbers in the cost calculator.
Reason 1: peak shaving
Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight plan makes the price gap between cheap and expensive hours dramatic. Overnight power runs about 3.9¢/kWh, while the on-peak window (4–9 p.m.) runs about 39.1¢/kWh — roughly a tenfold difference.
A battery lets you charge with cheap solar (or cheap overnight power) and discharge during those expensive evening hours instead of buying from the grid. The bigger the spread between your cheapest and most expensive rates, the more each stored kilowatt-hour is worth. On a flatter rate plan the savings are smaller — which is why the value of a battery is so tied to your rate plan and your evening usage.
Reason 2: backup power
Beyond bill savings, a battery keeps essentials running during an outage — fridge, lights, internet, medical equipment — without a noisy generator. How long it lasts depends on capacity and what you run. For some households the backup peace of mind matters as much as the math, and the rebate makes adding storage to a solar project considerably cheaper.
Does a battery pay off?
Honestly, it depends. A battery improves how much of your own solar you use (which matters a lot on the rebate path, where exported power is worth nothing), shifts usage away from peak prices, and adds backup — but it's also a real cost even after the rebate. If your evenings are high-usage and your rate spread is wide, the case is strong; if not, solar alone may make more sense. The rebate vs. net metering calculator lets you toggle a battery and see the effect.
Common questions
Can I add a battery to my existing solar panels and get the rebate?
No. The battery must be installed together with a new solar PV system. Adding storage to panels you already have does not qualify under the program rules.
Is a battery-only project eligible?
No. Battery storage only qualifies when paired with a new qualifying solar installation in the same project.
Does the battery have to store solar energy?
Yes. The program requires the battery to be appropriately sized to the solar system and primarily intended to store the solar energy it produces, rather than power drawn from the grid.
How big can the battery rebate get?
$300 per kWh up to $5,000 — so capacity beyond roughly 16.7 kWh stops adding rebate — and never more than 50% of the battery cost.
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See lead pricing →Independent homeowner tool. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario. Rate figures are the Ultra-Low Overnight on-peak and overnight prices; your plan may differ. Sources: homerenovationsavings.ca, saveonenergy.ca. Verified June 2026. Beware of copycat rebate websites — see the official program's scam advisory.