Many Australian homeowners dream of cutting ties with energy retailers altogether. With electricity prices rising, generous sunlight, and more advanced solar batteries on the market, the question naturally arises: can a solar battery actually take you off grid in Australia?
The short answer: yes, it’s possible. But whether it’s practical or affordable depends on your home’s energy needs, your location, and how much you’re willing to invest.
What Does “Off Grid” Really Mean?
Being off grid means your home is completely disconnected from the electricity network. You generate all of your own power, store it in batteries, and rely on backup systems (like generators) when your solar and batteries can’t meet demand.
This is different from having a solar and battery system while staying grid-connected:
- Grid-connected with a battery: You generate and store your own power, but the grid acts as backup if you run short.
- Fully off grid: 100% self-sufficient, no access to grid backup.
Can Today’s Solar Batteries Handle It?
With the new Cheaper Home Battery Rebates, it’s now more affordable than ever to size up your storage. Instead of sticking with a single mid-sized unit, many households are choosing larger battery setups that can comfortably cover their evening use and stretch through cloudy days.
If you own an electric vehicle (EV), your needs are significantly higher again. A typical EV can use as much electricity as your entire home. And if you need to charge your car outside at public chargers, that doesn’t really count as being off grid you’re still dependent on the wider electricity network.
The Costs of Going Off Grid
Going off grid is possible, but it comes at a price.
Typical costs:
- Grid-connected solar + battery: $15,000–$25,000 after rebates.
- True off-grid system (large solar array, multiple batteries, backup generator): $50,000–$80,000+.
The main reason most homeowners stay grid-connected is simple: the grid provides cheap, reliable backup power that batteries alone can’t yet match.
Who Typically Chooses Off Grid?
In Australia, going off grid is most common for:
- Remote properties where connecting to the grid would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Lifestyle choices — homeowners who value independence, even if it costs more.
- Eco-builds where self-sufficiency is part of the design.
For suburban households, however, staying grid-connected with solar and a battery is usually the smartest option.
The Middle Ground: “Grid Independence”
Rather than cutting the cord entirely, many Australians aim for grid independence. This means using solar and a battery to cover 80–90% of your needs, with the grid only as a safety net.
Benefits include:
- Lower power bills (often close to zero).
- Security during blackouts (if your system includes backup).
- Peace of mind without overspending on oversized off-grid systems.
Real-World Example
Let’s say your home uses 18 kWh per day. With a 6.6 kW solar system and a 10 kWh battery:
- On sunny days, you’ll generate more than you use, store the excess, and draw little from the grid.
- On cloudy days, you may need to import a few kWh from the grid.
To go completely off grid, you’d likely need triple the battery storage (around 30 kWh) and possibly a backup generator. That’s where costs rise steeply.
So, Can You Really Go Off Grid?
Yes. It’s technically possible to power your home entirely with solar and batteries in Australia. But for most homeowners, the cost, storage needs, and backup requirements make it impractical.
The sweet spot is usually grid-connected solar with a battery, which cuts bills dramatically and provides blackout protection without the huge upfront spend.
Final Verdict
If you live in a city or suburb, the grid is your cheapest backup don’t rush to cut it off. But if you’re building in a remote area, or you value independence above all else, going off grid with a well-sized solar and battery system is absolutely achievable.
For most Australians, though, the smartest move is to aim for grid independence reduce bills, gain resilience, but keep the grid as a safety net.
FAQs
A full off-grid system usually costs between $50,000 and $80,000+, depending on battery size, solar array, and backup generator.
Most households would need at least 30 kWh of storage (often 2–3 large batteries) to be reliably off grid, and more if you own an EV.
For most suburban households, no. Staying grid-connected with solar and a battery offers nearly all the benefits at a much lower cost. Going off grid only makes sense if you’re in a remote location or want complete independence.
Yes, but you’ll need a much larger battery system to support daily charging. If you rely on public charging, you’re still tied to the electricity grid.
👉 Thinking about a battery? Read our Battery Reviews or Check the Federal Battery Rebate Guide to see how much you could save.
